Run with your client, not after

Chris was always climbing the fence, an eight feet high, chain link structure that surrounded the euphemistic “garden” on three sides. The fourth side faced the three storey, red brick ward that was home of sorts to a dozen people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour, and half a dozen members of staff. Chris's most prominent behaviour was “absconding from the ward”—the reason for his admission and an activity he engaged in quite successfully on a daily basis.

The escape itself …