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People with a learning disability, autism or both: Liaison and Diversion managers and practitioner resources
- Authors:
- NHS ENGLAND, NHS IMPROVEMENT
- Publishers:
- NHS England, NHS Improvement
- Publication year:
- 2019
- Pagination:
- 22
- Place of publication:
- London
Guidance for practitioners in Liaison and Diversion services who are working with people with learning disability, autism or both. It aims to support practitioners to anticipate and prevent discrimination against people with learning disabilities, which could put them at a significant disadvantage when trying to navigate the youth or criminal justice system. The guidance includes information on identifying and screening people with learning disability or autism and providing relevant support. It also lists recommended actions in relation to service development and how best to supporting the needs of people with a learning disability. Case studies of individuals illustrate the practical impact of effective Liaison and Diversion interventions. A list of relevant resources is also included. (Edited publisher abstract)
“I’d trust them if they understood learning disabilities” support needs of people with learning disabilities in the Criminal Justice System
- Authors:
- HOWARD Ruth, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 6(1), 2015, pp.1-4.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: People with learning disabilities (LD) often lack necessary support in navigating and coping within the Criminal Justice System (CJS). The purpose of this paper is to explore their experiences, from their own perspective, and identify the supports which need to be implemented. Design/methodology/approach: Focus groups were held with nine patients in a forensic LD service, discussing their experiences and support needs within the CJS. Template analysis was undertaken on the transcripts. Findings: Four themes were identified: negative feelings, professional attitudes, suitability of the CJS, and supports needed. Practical implications: This research demonstrates the valuable opinions to be obtained from offenders with LD on their experiences and needs. Implications for the CJS include a need for further awareness, training, and expertise to work effectively with people with LD. Participant perspectives also highlight the importance of consistent liaison and diversion schemes, and indicate that CJS services may have something to learn from healthcare settings. Originality/value: Previous knowledge of offenders with LD overlooked the perspective of the service user. This research has given this group a voice, and has benefited from their insight. This is a timely piece of research in the current landscape of the CJS, and so these findings may be of practical value to the implementation of supports, particularly the liaison and diversion schemes. (Publisher abstract)
Keys to diversion: best practice for offenders with multiple needs
- Author:
- DURCAN Graham
- Publisher:
- Centre for Mental Health
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 28
- Place of publication:
- London
Liaison and diversion services aim to identify and support people with mental health problems, learning difficulties and other vulnerable people in police stations and courts. This report identifies the key elements of successful liaison and diversion services in six services based in Lewisham, Manchester, Portsmouth and in Plymouth, Bodmin and Truro. The findings are based on visits to sites, interviews with staff, service users, and partners. It finds that the most successful teams offer support for a wide range of a person’s needs, they build packages of support from a range of local agencies, and they stay in touch with people after they have been referred to other services. The report then makes recommendations for NHS commissioners and liaison and diversion services. (Edited publisher abstract)
Victims with mild intellectual disabilities in the criminal justice system
- Authors:
- SPAAN Nienke A., KAAL Hendrien L.
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Social Work, 19(1), 2019, pp.60-82.
- Publisher:
- Sage
Summary: People with mild intellectual disabilities are more vulnerable to become victims of crime. Victims with intellectual disabilities can face attitudinal, procedural and practical barriers within the justice system. This exploratory study looked at obstacles encountered by victims of crime with mild intellectual disabilities in effectuating their rights, their vulnerability to secondary victimization and ways to support them. In 2014, 35 respondents from across the Dutch justice system and 10 respondents with mild intellectual disabilities-expertise were interviewed. Inductive and deductive content analysis was carried out. Resonance of findings was checked in an expert meeting. Findings: Three major problems were identified: (1) victims’ incomprehension about the process and the proceedings; (2) victims’ difficulty meeting system requirements and expectations; and (3) impact of prejudices concerning mild intellectual disabilities. A system adequately set up to deal with victims with mild intellectual disabilities could ease these difficulties. However, additional problems were identified, namely: (1) limited recognition of mild intellectual disabilities; (2) insufficient knowledge and understanding of consequences of mild intellectual disabilities; (3) issues related to accessing and accepting support; (4) communication unsuited for victims’ reading and comprehension-level. These problems influence the ability of victims with mild intellectual disabilities to effectuate their rights and increases risk of secondary victimization. Applications: Besides the importance of these findings for policymakers, results are of importance for all those working with victims or with people with mild intellectual disabilities. Individually tailored forms of support are required to overcome the identified problems. Awareness of the barriers that victims with mild intellectual disabilities may encounter will aid providing adequate support for victims with mild intellectual disabilities to exercise their rights and protect against secondary victimization. (Publisher abstract)
Development and implementation of autism standards for prisons
- Authors:
- LEWIS Alexandra, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 6(2), 2015, pp.68-80.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the experience of a southern English young offenders institution in developing and implementing standards to improve awareness and care of prisoners with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD). Design/methodology/approach: Some contextual factors driving the project are discussed, the multi-agency process involved in the development and implementation of the standards is described and recommendations are made regarding implementation of the standards in other settings. Findings: It is expected that successful implementation of the standards will reduce the level of distress and difficulty experienced by people with ASD who find themselves in custody, it will also improve the prison’s ability to meet the needs of prisoners with ASD and thereby improve rehabilitation and reduce any adverse impact on everyday operational processes. Demonstrating success in meeting the standards will enable the prison to achieve accreditation by the National Autistic Society. In March 2015 the prisons minister encouraged all prisons to follow this approach and this will have practice and resource implications. Originality/value: This paper describes a clear framework which prisons can use to work systematically towards achieving good practice in addressing the needs of prisoners with ASD. It will enable prisons to meet the duties imposed on them by the Autism Act, 2009 and the Equalities Act, 2010. (Publisher abstract)
Learning disability nursing in the criminal justice system: achieving justice for all – understanding need and enabling change for young people in the youth offending team and resolution and understanding for victims
- Authors:
- HEPWORTH Karina Louise, WILLIAMS Helen-Askell
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 6(1), 2015, pp.15-22.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The learning disability nursing role in the multi-professional Youth Offending Team (YOT) enables the recognition, acknowledgement and understanding of the needs of people entering the Criminal Justice System (CJS) and provides a platform to ensure appropriate identification, assessment, planning and delivery of care ensuring successful completion of the Order and subsequent recidivism and reduction in reoffending. The purpose of this paper is to share the experience of working with young people who have committed a crime and are found to have unmet or undiagnosed additional needs. Design/methodology/approach: This paper seeks to consider how learning disability nursing skills compliment the range of expertise in the multi-professional YOT and discusses the case of a young woman and her experience of the CJS from pre-sentence to completion of the Order. Findings: Working together enables effective care delivery to ensure the needs of the person are recognised, understood and acted upon and achieves a balance between welfare for the person and justice and understanding for the victim. Originality/value: This paper’s value is to demonstrate that recognition of need enables the appropriate intervention and delivery of care. Through working together a reduction in young people returning into the CJS as well as building skills and understanding in staff working with young people with additional needs can be achieved. (Publisher abstract)
Young adults (18-24) in transition, mental health and criminal justice
- Author:
- SAUNDERS Anna
- Publisher:
- Centre for Mental Health
- Publication year:
- 2014
- Pagination:
- 20
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing considers the needs of young adults (18 to 24 year olds) in contact with mental health and/or learning disability services and the criminal justice system. It is one of three briefings commissioned by the Bradley Commission to fill in gaps in the 2009 report. It notes that young adults in contact with the criminal justice system often have multiple needs and vulnerabilities, and are also likely to be faced with multiple transitions between services and systems. It draws on examples of good practice under the following offender pathway headings: community, police, Crown prosecution service, courts, prison, secure mental health services and probation and resettlement. Eight suggestions are made to help achieve positive outcomes when engaging with young adults. (Original abstract)
Developing a framework for the identification of criminogenic needs in offenders with intellectual disability and personality disorder: the Treatment Need Matrix
- Author:
- TAYLOR Jon
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 8(1), 2014, pp.43-50.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The criminogenic needs and psychological vulnerabilities of offenders with intellectual disability (ID) has only recently received attention within the academic literature. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of an approach to identifying such needs in order to inform treatment planning and service delivery. Design/methodology/approach: The paper describes the methods employed to identify relevant psychological variables for this population, provides an overview of the framework and describes the practices employed to establish the relevance of a range of criminogenic needs. Findings: A range of psychological variables derived from a systematic literature review are presented in the context of an assessment framework. Research limitations/implications: The Treatment Need Matrix (TNM) is currently an experimental framework for identifying the needs of offenders with ID (and personality disorder (PD)). Further research is needed to establish the reliability and validity of the tool. Practical implications: The TNM offers clinicians a practical methodology for determining the significance of a range of psychological variables cited in the literature as relevant treatment targets for offenders with IDs. Originality/value: The specific criminogenic needs of offenders with ID (and PD) has received little attention within the academic and research communities. This paper offers a novel approach to the identification. (Publisher abstract)
Vulnerability in custody: perceptions and practices of police officers and criminal justice professionals in meeting the communication needs of offenders with learning disabilities and learning difficulties
- Authors:
- PARSONS Sarah, SHERWOOD Gina
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Society, 31(4), 2016, pp.553-572.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Information provision and communication within the Criminal Justice System can be highly problematic for young people and adults with learning disabilities and difficulties. Paper-based communication is common, and is mandated for the provision of rights and entitlements in custody, but such communication can be poorly understood, potentially leading to miscarriages of justice. This article uses the piloting of a more accessible version of the rights and entitlements notice in custody to explore the communication practices with vulnerable detained persons from the perspectives of professionals within the Criminal Justice System. As a legally mandated text in a context heavily imbued with organisational power, the rights and entitlements notice in custody has sociological significance as a lens through which organisational practices, and understandings, can be examined. The stressful, fast-paced and transitional context of custody shapes communication and interaction in ways that are challenging for the detained person and also the professionals who support them. (Publisher abstract)