A community forensic team for people with intellectual disabilities

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the characteristics of adults with intellectual disabilities supported by a Community Forensic Learning Disability Team (CFT) and interventions delivered. It discusses the clinical implications of these and examines outcomes such as recidivism. Design/methodology/approach A retrospective case note review of all 70 service users open to the CFT during June 2013 was carried out, using a structured service evaluation tool. Findings The majority of service users (74.3 per cent) had a mild intellectual disability. Multiple mental health and/or physical health diagnoses were common, and 28 per cent had problematic drug or alcohol abuse. Almost half of service users had been victims of physical or sexual abuse, or neglect. Sexual offences were the most common index offence, followed by assault and fire-setting. A wide range of multi-disciplinary interventions were delivered within the Community Forensic Team. Following CFT involvement there was an increase in service users living in supported living in the community and a decrease in people in secure or out of area placements. Over half of service users engaged in no further offending behaviour since their referral, and those who did offend generally showed a decrease in the severity of offending behaviours. There was a large decrease in the number of convictions received. Practical implications The study shows the benefits of a multi-disciplinary Community Forensic Team for offenders with intellectual disabilities in terms of reduced recidivism and range of interventions delivered. It highlights the importance of clinicians within such a team having the skills to work with people with co-morbid diagnoses (e.g. autism) and people with trauma backgrounds and problematic substance use. Originality/value This paper demonstrates the complexity of the service users who are supported by the CFT, as well as the integral role played in supporting individuals to move to less restrictive settings, with positive outcomes.

Contributing factors to providing an effective community-based forensic service for people with a learning disability: a literature review

“…Article 1: Browning et al (2016) a community forensic team for people with intellectual disabilities This paper was published in 2016 examining case note data collated in 2013. Article 1 had contributing authors from the psychology department of the CFS, Birmingham Community NHS Trust.…”

A short-term “behavioural support” service for autistic adults without an intellectual disability: a pilot evaluation

“…The methodology was based in large part on Browning et al.’s (2016) mixed-methods evaluation of a new community forensic service for adults with IDD. In keeping with their methodology, key demographic data on accepted, but also declined, referrals were collected, combined with analyses of key case notes of each accepted referral where required.…”

Modèles D’intervention Médical Et Environnemental Auprès Des Personnes Manifestant Un Trouble Grave Du Comportement, Quelles Sont Les Divergences?

“…On y retrouve, par exemple, des études associées au modèle médical qui comparent les caractéristiques des individus en fonction des types de comportements problématiques émis (Fİstİkcİ et al, 2014), des diagnostics comorbides liés aux TGC (Bakken et Martinsen, 2013;Stinson et Robbins, 2014;Tureck, Matson et Beighley, 2013), des facteurs prédisposant aux TGC ou aux délits (Leonard, Morrison, Delany-Warner et Calvert, 2016;Williams, Siegel, et Mazefsky, 2017), des caractéristiques physiques (corticales) des contrevenants (Howner et al, 2012) et des caractéristiques favorisant l'adhésion aux traitements (Breckon et al, 2013). Les articles associés au modèle environnemental traitent des caractéristiques pouvant influencer la trajectoire de service des délinquants sexuels présentant une DI (Carson et al, 2014), des caractéristiques des usagers d'un service psycholégal au sein de la communauté (Browning, Gray et Tomlins, 2016) et des caractéristiques liées à l'abus de substance chez les adolescents (Papachristou et Anagnostopoulos, 2014).…”