Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
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Providing forensic community services for people with learning disabilities
- Authors:
- DINANI Shamim, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 1(1), April 2010, pp.58-63.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
The Avon Forensic Community Learning Disabilities Team, formed in 2000, was developed with the aim of identifying those who had convictions or allegations of offending made against them or were as risk of offending and, where possible, to divert them to community settings by providing therapeutic interventions and support. This team attempted to avoid inappropriate imprisonment or admission to out-of-area units by providing specialist assessment and intervention. This article reports on the first eight years of this team. The authors give an overview of current research and government guidance regarding the prevalence, care pathway and treatment of people with learning disabilities who offend, and describe the role and function of the community forensic team. An analysis of referrals to the service is given. The authors reflect on the frustrations as well as the achievements associated with providing this service. Implications for practice include: early identification of people with learning disabilities in the criminal justice system; community teams developing awareness, skills and knowledge by working with specialist teams; teams delivering assessment and treatment in community settings, bypassing inpatient treatment; improved links with the criminal justice system results in increased referrals of people not previously known to have learning difficulties.
In the case of justice...
- Author:
- HOPKINGS Graham
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 21.07.07, 2007, pp.36-37.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The author reports on three new developments to promote better justice and protection for vulnerable adults. The initiatives highlighted are: a witness pocket book guide; a picture book for adults or adolescents who cannot read or have difficulty reading; and an intermediary scheme to aid communication between the witness and the court.
Balancing the scales of justice
- Author:
- SEDEN Rebecca
- Journal article citation:
- Community Living, 19(1), August 2005, pp.20-21.
- Publisher:
- Hexagon Publishing
A campaign to get equal access to the legal system for people with learning disabilities focusing on the use of intermediaries is being jointly run by three organisations: Respond, the Ann Craft Trust and Voice UK. This article reports on the initiative.
A life without fear? A call for collective action against learning disability hate crime
- Authors:
- SIMMONDS R., et al
- Publisher:
- Mental Health Foundation
- Publication year:
- 2018
- Pagination:
- 44
- Place of publication:
- London
This report highlights the serious under-reporting of learning disability hate crime and identifies examples of good practice to prevent and tackle learning disability hate crime. It reports on the results of a scoping survey and mapping of schemes addressing learning disability hate crime across the UK. The survey identified schemes which were: providing awareness raising, providing support to people with learning disabilities in a community setting, offering advocacy to learning disability hate crime victims and providing training for staff and other organisations. The report provides good practice examples which cover the areas of: feeling safe in the community, feeling safe at home, and feeling safe to report incidents of hate crime. The research involved an ‘experts by experience’ reference group throughout the project which helped design the surveys, conduct interviews, and also shared their own experiences of hate crime. The report concludes by providing recommendations for government, the police and local authorities to influence change in policy and addressing learning disability hate crime. (Edited publisher abstract)
Supporting people with learning disabilities in health and social care
- Author:
- BROUSSINE Eric
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 232p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This text book aims to provide students and professionals working with people with learning disabilities in primary, secondary and specialist healthcare settings, with the knowledge and skills they need for effective practice. The chapters, which are each written by leading academics and practitioners in their field, examine core issues. A multi-professional, case-study approach consolidates the theory and this practical approach is reinforced by the inclusion of service-user and practitioner 'voices'. Reflective exercises and opportunities for self-audit of learning are included throughout. Chapters include: the history and context of learning disability, families' perspectives; enabling people with learning disabilities to be valued citizens; empowered and/or vulnerable?; living with a learning disability; enabling families; building positive relationships with people with learning disabilities; promoting effective communication; health and well-being; meeting specific health needs of people with learning disabilities; meeting the mental health needs of people with learning disabilities; people with learning disabilities in the criminal justice system; professional practice and people with learning disabilities; and improving practice.
Positive practice, positive outcomes: a handbook for professionals in the criminal justice system working with offenders with learning disabilities
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Department of Health
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Department of Health
- Publication year:
- 2011
- Pagination:
- 61p.
- Place of publication:
- London
This best practice handbook provides information, practical advice, sign-posting and best practice examples for criminal justice professionals working with offenders with learning disabilities and learning difficulties. This group includes police suspects and defendants in court. The handbook is intended as an introduction to this work and covers the essential information to help staff identify, communicate with, understand and support this group of people. It also covers relevant legislation that outlines the duties and obligations of criminal justice staff, and also health and social care staff, with regards to offenders with learning disabilities. Much of the advice and legislation covered is also relevant when working with offenders with communication problems and that may affect a person’s ability to cope in the criminal justice system. These include autism, Asperger Syndrome, ADHD (attention deficit hyper-activity disorder), and specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia).
Vulnerable defendants in the criminal courts: a review of provision for adults and children
- Authors:
- JACOBSON Jessica, TALBOT Jenny
- Publisher:
- Prison Reform Trust
- Publication year:
- 2009
- Pagination:
- 68p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The focus of this report is the treatment of vulnerable defendants within the criminal courts of England and Wales. In Chapters 1 to 4 existing provision for vulnerable adult defendants, especially those with learning disabilities, are reviewed. Chapters 5 to 9 concentrate on child defendants aged between 10 and 17, all vulnerable because of their age but many due to, for example, communication and emotional difficulties can be viewed doubly vulnerable. Integral to the Prison Reform Trusts’ No One Knows’ and ‘Out of Trouble’ programs and in the context of the Bradley review and ‘Improving Health, Supporting Justice’ both published in 2009, this report considers to what extent offenders with mental health problems or learning disabilities and children, who may find the language of court difficult, can be protected from standard proceedings by implementing court liaison and diversion arrangements which will support them through the criminal justice system or into health and social care. Seven recommendations to improve are made for vulnerable adults and ten for vulnerable children. The Norwich Combined Courts Assessment scheme, mental health courts pilots in Brighton and Stratford, the Liverpool Investigations Support Unit and the youth justice liaison and diversion pilots are presented, by the authors, as examples of good practice.