Women at the centre – using formulation to enhance partnership-working: a case study
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-02-2016-0013 |
| Pages | 278-287 |
| Date | 13 November 2017 |
| Published date | 13 November 2017 |
| Author | Lisa Joanne Maltman,Emma Lucy Turner |
| 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 |
Women at the centre –using formulation
to enhance partnership-working:
a case study
Lisa Joanne Maltman and Emma Lucy Turner
Abstract
Purpose –The 2011 Offender Personality Disorder Strategy promoted formulation-led approaches to
offender management. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how formulation can inform
partnership-workin g with women offenders, sp ecifically those with co mplex needs including p ersonality
difficulties.
Design/methodology/approach –Learning from partnership case-work is shared to highlight a
psychological understanding of the needs of one female offender, and the organisational system operating
around her.
Findings –The paper describes the development of a “volcano metaphor”as a conceptual framework to
assist workers, without psychological training, to better understand the complexity of a client’s intense
emotional world. It also reflects the impact of an individualised formulation for through-the-gate working.
Practical implications –The challenges and advantages of “joined-up”inter-agency working are
highlighted, including some ideas on how to promote consistency. These include the use of formulation as
the basis for decision making and to help “contain”strong emotions attached to working with complex
women offenders. Importance is attached to stable and appropriate housing for such women by anticipating
their resettlement needs prior to points of transition, and coordinating provision through multi-agency public
protection arrangements.
Originality/value –The paper’s originality lies with the development of the volcano diagram as an
accessible format for considering individualised formulation and risk assessment. The paper also offers
detailed reflections on wider systemic processes attached to working with complex women offenders.
It is particularly relevant to psychological practitioners working within probation and prisons, and also to
offender managers.
Keywords Personality disorder, Housing, Probation, Arson, Women offenders, Partnership-working,
Psychological formulations, Risk management
Paper type Case study
Introduction
It has long been recognised that individuals with personality difficulties[1] face exclusion from
numerous services intended for vulnerable client groups (National Institute for Mental Health
England, 2003). However, probation services across England and Wales do not impose
exclusion criteria meaning that frontline offender managers (OMs) manage clients with
personality difficulties, often without specialist training or wider support. The coal ition
Government’s Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Strategy (2011) described shared
responsibilities between criminal justice and the National Health Service, necessitated by this
client group’s multiple support and intervention needs. It called for risk management and
rehabilitation approaches to be psychologically informed through partnerships between criminal
justice professionals and psychologically trained staff. This principle acknowledged that no single
agency holds all the prerequisite skills and resources to provide complete and holistic care
packages (Bateman and Tyrer, 2004; Murphy, 2010).
Received 22 February 2016
Revised 10 August 2016
15 December 2016
5 February 2017
26 February 2017
Accepted 5 March 2017
Lisa Joanne Maltman is a
Forensic Psychologist at
Personality Disorder Service,
Leeds and York Partnership
NHS Foundation Trust,
Leeds, UK.
Emma Lucy Turner is a Housing
and Resettlement Worker at
Pathway Development Service,
Community Links, Leeds, UK.
PAGE278
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JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
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VOL. 19 NO. 4 2017, pp. 278-287, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794 DOI 10.1108/JFP-02-2016-0013
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