The support needs of learning disability nurse facilitators of sex offender treatment programmes: a discussion
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-09-2015-0035 |
| Date | 13 June 2016 |
| Pages | 94-102 |
| Published date | 13 June 2016 |
| Author | Keeley Smith |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities,Offending behaviour |
The support needs of learning disability
nurse facilitators of sex offender treatment
programmes: a discussion
Keeley Smith
Keeley Smith is a Senior Nurse
(RNLD) Practitioner at the
Criminal Justice Liaison Team
STHK, Knowsley Resource and
Recovery Centre, Whiston
Hospital, 5 Boroughs
Partnership NHS, Whiston, UK.
Abstract
Purpose –The role of the learning disability (LD) nurse has developed and expanded significantly within
recent years, especially their responsibility for delivering a variety of specialist treatment programmes. The
purpose of this paper is to discuss the facilitation of Sex Offender Treatment Programmes (SOTP) and the
issues this raises in providing support for LD nurses.
Design/methodology/approach –This is an opinion paper and the views and opinions expressed are
solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any organisation or group with which the
author is affiliated. The aims of this paper are: first, to explore the support needs of the LD nurse facilitators of
SOTPs; second, to consider the practical implications of providing clinical supervision and support for LD
nurse facilitators of SOTPs; and third, to highlight the need for further research in this area.
Findings –This paper does not contain original research findings but offers a discussion of the support
needs of the LD nurse who facilitate SOTP, concentrating on the specific themes of training, clinical
supervision and support.
Practical implications –Implications for clinical practice are identified and recommendations for further
research are made.
Originality/value –Whilst this is not the first consideration of the support needs of facilitators of SOTPs, it
offers a contribution to the discussion of how best to support the LD nurse to continue to deliver the high
quality, specialist care for people with learning disabilities.
Keywords Learning disability, Sex offenders, Support, Clinical supervision, Learning disability nurses,
Sex offending treatment programmes (SOTPs)
Paper type Viewpoint
Introduction
Clinical supervision and support is commonly recommended for facilitators of Sex Offender
Treatment Programmes (SOTPs) (University College London, 2015). Moreover, it is identified by
the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) (2010) that all facilitators are provided with
support as standard practice, in recognition of the emotional impact that the work can have on
facilitators, particularly in relation to secondary traumatisation and burnout.
Clinical supervision has been adopted by the nursing profession for its merits in promoting peer
support, personal and professional growth, development and accountability and is recognised
as an important component of clinical governance to ensure quality and safety standards (Pearce
et al., 2013). It is advocated that clinical supervision should be available for all registered learning
disability (LD) nurses (Care Quality Commission (CQC), 2013) and is specifically identified within
the Strengthening the Commitment report (Thomas, 2014). However, the reality of clinical
supervision within LD nursing practice is less than ideal (Jackson, 2014).
Received 14 September 2015
Revised 29 October 2015
Accepted 9 November 2015
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JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES AND OFFENDING BEHAVIOUR
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VOL. 7 NO. 2 2016, pp.94-102, © Emerald Group Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8824 DOI 10.1108/JIDOB-09-2015-0035
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