The EssenCES measure of social climate: A preliminary validation and normative data in UK high secure hospital settings

Abstract

Although preliminary, these data suggest that the English version of EssenCES may be a valid tool for assessing the social climate of high secure hospital settings in the UK, but a larger research study is required, covering a wider range of psychiatric disorders, types of service and levels of security.

Lost in translation? Psychometric properties and construct validity of the English Essen Climate Evaluation Schema (EssenCES) social climate questionnaire.

“…The fact that the psychometric properties of the English EssenCES remained stable across such a diverse range of settings and that they are consistent with those reported in previous research (Howells et al, 2009;Schalast & Groenewald, 2009;Schalast et al, 2008) is strong evidence to support the validity of scores obtained using the English EssenCES.…”

“…Finally, the residents within more secure hospital settings were rated as less cohesive and supportive of each other than residents from conditions of lesser security, and the residents within more secure prison settings rated their unit as less safe than those from less secure prisons. These findings make sense theoretically and fit with the general pattern of findings observed in previous research using the EssenCES Howells et al, 2009;Long et al, 2010;Schalast et al, 2008) and with research using the WAS/CIES (Friis & Helldin, 1994;Langdon, Cosgrave, & Tranah, 2004;Langdon, Swift, & Budd, 2006;Moos & Schaefer, 1987).…”

“…These findings extend those of Howells et al (2009) to a much wider range of forensic services, including both prisons and secure psychiatric hospital settings that contain individuals with varying mental health diagnoses and levels of risk. The fact that the psychometric properties of the English EssenCES remained stable across such a diverse range of settings and that they are consistent with those reported in previous research (Howells et al, 2009;Schalast & Groenewald, 2009;Schalast et al, 2008) is strong evidence to support the validity of scores obtained using the English EssenCES.…”

“…Furthermore, the English translation of the EssenCES has received preliminary validation for use in high secure forensic psychiatric hospital settings in the United Kingdom (UK) (Howells et al, 2009). In that study, satisfactory internal consistency was found for the three sub-scales (alphas ranged from .72 to .82), the expected three-factor structure was replicated with both patients and staff, and construct validity was demonstrated through statistically significant correlations with the GMI and the Working Environment Scale (WES-10).…”

Ward Climate Within a High Secure Forensic Psychiatric Hospital: Perceptions of Patients and Nursing Staff and the Role of Patient Characteristics

“…However, creating an optimal climate within a high security forensic setting can be very challenging due to the complex patient population, involuntary admission within a closed setting and the balance between security needs and treatment goals (Burrows, 1991;Campling, Davies, & Farquharson, 2004;Howells, Krishnan, & Daffern, 2007). Moreover, patients and staff members working within forensic psychiatric settings seem to evaluate ward climate differently (Caplan, 1993;Day, Casey, Vess, & Huisy, 2011;Dickens, Suesse, Snyman, & Picchioni, 2014;Howells et al, 2009;Livingston et al, 2012;Long et al, 2011;Moos, 1975;Rossberg & Friis, 2004;Schalast, Redies, Collins, Stacey, & Howell, 2008;Morrison, Burnard, & Phillips, 1997). For instance, Howells et al (2009) found that patients in a high secure hospital service in the United Kingdom (UK) evaluated cohesion among patients more favorably than staff members.…”