Supporting competence in practitioners working in personality disorder services

Date14 November 2016
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-08-2016-0042
Published date14 November 2016
Pages306-310
AuthorHelen Johnson,Neil Gredecki,Fiona Rachel Wilks-Riley
Subject MatterHealth & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Law enforcement/correctional,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice
Brief review
Supporting competence in practitioners
working in personality disorder services
Helen Johnson, Neil Gredecki and Fiona Rachel Wilks-Riley
Helen Johnson is a Forensic
Psychologist at HM Prison
Wymott, Preston, UK.
Neil Gredecki is a Private
Practitioner based in UK and
at the Manchester Metropolitan
University, Manchester, UK.
Fiona Rachel Wilks-Riley is a
Consultant and a Forensic
Psychologist at the Department
of Psychology, Cardiff
Metropolitan University,
Cardiff, UK and
Alpha Hospitals Limited,
London, UK.
Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a spotlighton the literature relating the selection,
recruitment and development of staff working in personality disorder (PD) services.
Design/methodology/approach The paper reviews key documentation in the field of PD practice in
relation to staff.
Findings Despite the publication of guidelines for working with PD clients, a number of large scale enquiries
suggest that some services have often failed to absorb and implement the recommendations made which
has resulted in serious consequences.
Practical implications A number of considerations relating to enhancing staff competency when working
in PD units are presented.
Originality/value The review outlines a number of good practice guidelines relating to the different stages
of recruitment and employment for staff working with PD clients.
Keywords Recruitment, Personality disorder, Personality disorder units, Staff competence,
Staff selection, Staff training
Paper type Viewpoint
Ashworthrun by inmates not staffwas the headline of The Independent on the 13 January 1999,
following the release of the Fallon Inquiry into the Personality Disorder (PD)Unit, Ashworth Special
Hospital (Laurance, 1999). The Fallon Inquiry (Fallon et al., 1999) prompted a review of the
treatmentand management of individuals witha diagnosis of PD, and along with later publications,
highlighted the need for guidelines in relation to the treatment and management of PD clients.
A number of frameworks have been implemented that provideguidance on the specific capabilities
required of staffworking with PD clients, with researchhighlighting a number of recommendations
that should be considered when working with this client group. However, despite the extensive
recommendations made within the FallonInquiry, independent reviews of serious incidents within
hospitals and prison settings (e.g. Bridges, 2006) have provided examples of the implications of
poor treatmentand management of individualswith a diagnosis of PD. In many cases, the failure to
recognise the associated risks of PD has resulted in breaches of personal and professional
boundaries. Whilst a number of the documents reviewed in this paper are dated, they offer
important learning points that remain relevant to current practice. This paper will consider a
summary of what is known in this field, and how the competence of staff working in PD services
can be developed and maintained.
The implication of getting it wrongin this field of work has the potential for severe outcomes for
service users, organisations and the general public. As such, this review aims to provide a spotlight
on the literature relating the selection, recruitment and development of staff working in PD services,
providing an overview of some of the good practice guidelines that have been published to support
organisations in recruiting and developing competent staff to work with PD clients.
Received 17 August 2016
Revised 17 August 2016
Accepted 17 August 2016
PAGE306
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
j
VOL. 18 NO. 4 2016, pp. 306-310, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794 DOI 10.1108/JFP-08-2016-0042

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT