Mentally disordered young offenders in transition from child and adolescent to adult mental health services across England and Wales
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-01-2017-0002 |
| Date | 13 November 2017 |
| Pages | 301-308 |
| Published date | 13 November 2017 |
| Author | Maria I. Livanou,Vivek Furtado,Swaran P. Singh |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Law enforcement/correctional,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
Mentally disordered young offenders in
transition from child and adolescent to
adult mental health services across
England and Wales
Maria I. Livanou, Vivek Furtado and Swaran P. Singh
Abstract
Purpose –This paper provides an overview of transitions across forensic child and adolescent mental health
services in England and Wales. The purpose of this paper is to delineate the national secure services system
for young people in contact with the youth justice system.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper reviews findings from the existing literature of transitions
across forensic child and adolescent mental health services, drawing attention to present facilitators and
barriers to optimal transition. The authors examine the infrastructure of current services and highlight gaps
between child and adult service continuity and evaluate the impact of poor transitions on young offenders’
mental health and wellbeing.
Findings –Young offenders experience a broad range of difficulties, from the multiple interfaces with the
legal system, untreated mental health problems, and poor transition to adult services. Barriers such as long
waiting lists, lack of coordination between services and lack of transition preparation impede significantly
smooth transitions.
Research limitations/implications –The authors need to develop, test and evaluate models of transitional
care that improve mental health and wellbeing of this group.
Practical implications –Mapping young offenders’care pathway will help to understand their needs and
also to impact current policy and practice. Key workers in forensic services should facilitate the transition
process by developing sustainable relationships with the young person and creating a safe clinical
environment.
Originality/value –Transition of care from forensic child and adolescent mental health services is a
neglected area. This paper attempts to highlight the nature and magnitude of the problems at the transition
interface in a forensic context.
Keywords Mental health services, Transition, Mental health problems, Forensic services,
Young offenders, Care pathway
Paper type General review
Background
Young offenders comprise a large proportion of the prison population and are at
high risk of experien cing mental health di sorders (Prison Ref orm Trust, 2012). In 200 9,
offenders under 21 made up 14 per cent of the overall prison population in England
and Wales (Bradley KJCB, 2009). The Bradley Commission reported that 1,323 children aged
between 10 and 18 years were detained, excluding those in secure hospitals (Snodgrass and
Preston, 2015). Up to 81 per cent of young people within criminal justice agencies are
known to present with mental health problems (Hagell, 2002), while a UK study identified
95 per cent of young offenders aged 16 to 20 years as having a mental health disorder
(Lader et al., 2003).
Received 15 January 2017
Revised 31 May 2017
Accepted 1 June 2017
Declarations –Ethics approval and
consent to participate: not
applicable, consent for publication:
not applicable, availability of data
and materials: this paper does not
include any raw data, competing
interests: the authors declare that
they have no competing interests.
Funding: this paper does not
require any additional funding. The
lead author is funded by NIHR
CLAHRC West Midlands for the
completion of her PhD and this
overview is part of it.
Maria I. Livanou is a PhD
Candidate, Vivek Furtado is an
Associate Clinical Professor of
Forensic Psychiatry and
Swaran P. Singh is a Professor
of Social and Community
Psychiatry, all at the Division of
Mental Health and Wellbeing,
Warwick Medical School,
University of Warwick,
Coventry, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JFP-01-2017-0002 VOL. 19 NO. 4 2017, pp. 301-308, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
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