Suchergebnisse

PurposeThere is a pressing need to develop community forensic support for adults with intellectual disabilities and a high risk to others. Equipping youth to help one another (EQUIP) was developed for juvenile offenders in the USA and is used across Europe and North America. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate an adapted community model of EQUIP for men with intellectual disabilities and a history of sexual offending.Design/methodology/approachA case series design was used. The adapted EQUIP group ran for one session per week over ten months, with each participant accompanied by a support worker. Six men living in the community with intellectual disabilities and a history of sexual offending completed the programme.FindingsAnalysis of the results suggests that this adapted version of EQUIP produced similar results to the programme delivered in an inpatient setting. Participants' reasoning and problem-solving abilities were improved post-intervention. Satisfaction levels from participant and their support workers were high. There was no evidence of recidivism during the ten months the group ran.Research limitations/implicationsThe case series design utilised only allows the conclusion that the changes above occurred at the same time as the group. Further research is needed to ascertain whether it is likely that the intervention resulted in the changes.Practical implicationsThere is a pressing need to develop the evidence base for interventions offered in the community to people with intellectual disabilities and a history of offending. This study provides some evidence that EQUIP can be adapted to suit this population.Social implicationsThe availability of community interventions may, over time, decrease the need for detention in inpatient settings. This is in line with the transforming care agenda.Originality/valueThis is the first published research into use of EQUIP in the community with adult participants with intellectual disabilities.

The Natural Capital Initiative (www.naturalcapitalinitiative.org.uk) held its first conference 'Valuing our life support systems' at Savoy Place, London, from 29 April to 1 May 2009. The aim of the conference was to discuss different perspectives on, and solutions to, the conservation and sustainable use of ecosystem services. It particularly focused on the link between the environment and the economy, and how to implement an ecosystem approach to environmental management. This event brought together scientists across the natural and social sciences, alongside representatives from government, non-governmental organizations, business and industry.

PurposeThere is a need to evaluate an adapted Equipping Youth to help One Another (EQUIP) programme for people with intellectual disabilities and forensic needs. The purpose of this paper is to explore a service user's experience of completing the intervention as part of their transition into the community.Design/methodology/approachA collaborative case report was used. Following hospital discharge and completion of the adapted EQUIP programme, one service user with mild intellectual disability was supported to share their treatment experiences using participatory action research.FindingsFindings suggest that while the adapted community EQUIP group can support skills acquisition (e.g. problem-solving), discharge processes and community reintegration, professionals need to maintain a person-centred approach mindful of participants' complex emotional journeys.Research limitations/implicationsThe design allows for tentative conclusions to be made about the service user's journey and is not necessarily generalisable.Practical implicationsThere is a pressing need to develop the evidence base for interventions offered in the community to people with intellectual disabilities and a history of offending. This report provides some evidence that EQUIP can be adapted to support this population.Originality/valueThis is the first coproduced publication exploring the experience of a service user with intellectual disability who completed an adapted EQUIP programme.

PurposeKnowledge about learning disabilities has found to be limited in both health and social care staff. To improve the treatment of individuals with learning disabilities and mental health problems within the criminal justice system (CJS), Lord Bradley recommends that professionals receive mental health and learning disability awareness training. However, little is known about the impact of training on the knowledge of professionals in the CJS. This study aims to investigate the impact of a 3-h learning disability training session on the knowledge of probation officers.Design/methodology/approachUsing a repeated measures design, the impact of a 3-h learning disability training session on the knowledge of 12 probation officers was analysed.FindingsIn support of this study's hypothesis, a repeated measurest-test revealed a significant difference between participants pre-training and post-training learning disability knowledge questionnaire (LDKQ) scores. Participants scored significantly higher on the LDKQ post-training compared to pre-training. A linear regression revealed that years worked in probation did not significantly predict participant's difference scores.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations of this study and directions for future studies are discussed.Originality/valueThis paper demonstrates that learning disability training can significantly improve the knowledge of probation officers.