From design to reality: the challenges of developing and delivering treatment and intervention services for offenders with personality disorders
| Pages | 46-50 |
| Published date | 14 December 2010 |
| Date | 14 December 2010 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5042/mhrj.2010.0739 |
| Author | Karen Miller,Vikki Baker,Sandra Oluonye |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care |
Mental Health Review Journal Volume 15 Issue 4 December 2010 © Pier Professional Ltd
46
Karen Miller
Probation Link Worker, Complex Cases Service, Fulbourn Hospital, Cambridge, UK
Vikki Baker
Associate Director, Resettle Project, Speke, Liverpool, UK
Sandra Oluonye
Associate Director, Resettle Project, Speke, Liverpool, UK
From design to reality:
the challenges of developing
and delivering treatment
and intervention services for
offenders with personality
disorders
Abstract
This paper describes two different services within the UK, both of which aim to better address the needs
of offenders with personality disorder. Both services have been developed in the light of recent policy and
practice guidance, which recognises the need to develop new ways of working with this hard-to-reach
population.
The importance of developing boundaries and optimistic therapeutic relationships in order to foster
motivation and engagement is emphasised. It is within these that assessment and interventions to address
risk, mental health and social integration issues can be undertaken. In addition, the need for different
agencies to work together in partnership to better address these needs is also emphasised.
Resettle is a stand-alone service in the pilot stage whilst the probation link-work role is a resource
within an established community personality disorder service.
Key words
Personality disorder, offenders, community projects, criminal justice system.
This paper describes the work of two different
community projects seeking to address the
needs of offenders with personality disorder
more effectively than standard probation
practice. Both services described were developed
in response to the seminal policy document,
Personality Disorder: No longer a diagnosis of
exclusion (Department of Health, 2003) and
increasing awareness of the high levels of
personality disorder in the criminal justice
system. Singleton et al (1997; 2000) found a
prevalence of 78% of male remand prisoners
and 64% of sentenced prisoners met the criteria
for personality disorder compared to 5.4% of
the general male population. Subsequent policy
and delivery guidance has further emphasised
the need to address the needs of offenders more
appropriately, eg. The Bradley Report (Bradley,
10.5042/mhrj.2010.0739
SERVICE
DESIGN
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