Organisational impact of a forensic education programme
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-09-2012-0020 |
| Pages | 218-230 |
| Published date | 02 August 2013 |
| Date | 02 August 2013 |
| Author | Helen Walker,Jennifer Young,David Langton,Lindsay Thomson |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Public policy & environmental management,Sociology |
Organisational impact of a forensic
education programme
Helen Walker, Jennifer Young, David Langton and Lindsay Thomson
Helen Walker is a Consultant
Nurse, Forensic Network,
Carstairs, UK.
Jennifer Young is a Research
Assistant, Forensic Network,
Carstairs, UK.
David Langton is a Researcher,
Forensic Network,
Carstairs, UK.
Lindsay Thomson is a Clinical
Advisor in the Department of
Psychiatry, University of
Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Abstract
Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the organisational impact of the New to Forensic Mental
Health education programme, developed for use across all forensic services in Scotland. To date, 267 have
been trained as a trainer or mentor; 502 have completed the programme and 375 are yet to complete. The
programme is designed to promote self-directed learning and is multi-disciplinary and multi-agency in
approach. It includes case studies and problem-based learning relating to patients in a variety of settings,
from the community to high secure care.
Design/methodology/approach – As part of a larger longitudinal study to assess the value of this New to
Forensic Mental Health education programme, organisational impact was assessed using semi-structured
interviews with (n ¼13) senior staff working in forensic services. Participants were purposively selected
for interview.
Findings – Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis, which revealed three themes: “Acquiring
knowledge: what you learn and how you learn”,“Developing skills”and “Shift in attitudes and behaviour”.
The results demonstrate the positive impact the programme has had at an organisational level and what
changes can occur when staff become more knowledgeable, skilful and confident. The implications
for practice, along with the limitations of the study, are discussed. One of the weaknesses of this type of
analysis is that it is always dependent on the analyst’s interpretation, and is thus the product of that person’s
bias, filters or prejudices.
Originality/value – This evaluation is one of the limited few that explore organisational impact of an
education programme.
Keywords Education programme, Forensic mental health, Problem based learning, Kirkpatrick model,
Thematic analysis, Mental health services, Education
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
The Forensic Mental Health Services Managed Care Network (Forensic Network) was
established in 2003, following a review of the State Hospitals Board for Scotland “The Right
Place, The Right Time” (Scottish Executive Health Department, 2003). The review marked the
beginning of a period of significant change in forensic mental health services in Scotland.
Research and education were two of the areas identified as being under-developed at that time.
The response from the Forensic Network was to establish a School of Forensic Mental Health
(SoFMH). Within a short timescale SoFMH established itself as one of the main providers of
training for staff working in forensic services across the spectrum of care (School of Forensic
Mental Health, 2011). The research agenda has been addressed, in part, through the
introduction of a Forensic Network Research Special Interest Group, set up in 2011. This group
seeks to increase the profile of forensic practice and promote large scale inter-disciplinary and
inter-agency research projects, building on the work in recent years focusing on: risk
assessment (Ho et al., 2009; Thomson et al., 2008; Ross et al., 2007); predictors of violence
(Thomson et al., 2009); psychosis and violence (Taylor et al., 2008); self-esteem (Laithwaite and
Gumley, 2007); recovery (Laithwaite et al., 2009); drug and alcohol abuse (Ritchie et al., 2011);
Funding for the research was
provided by the Forensic Network.
PAGE 218
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
j
VOL. 15 NO. 3 2013, pp. 218-230, CEmerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794 DOI 10.1108/JFP-09-2012-0020
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