Search results for ‘Subject term:"learning disabilities"’ Sort:
Results 1 - 3 of 3
"We know about our risks, so we should be asked." A tool to support service user involvement in the risk assessment process in forensic services for people with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- HALL Samantha, DUPEROUZEL Helen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 2(3), 2011, pp.122-126.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
In England, the involvement of service users in the risk assessment and management process is advocated by the Department of Health. The "Keeping me Safe and Well" screen was developed by Mersey Care NHS as part of a human rights healthcare project to adopt a more participative holistic approach to risk whilst working in partnership with service users. Five service users from a 16-bed, medium secure unit for people with intellectual disabilities and personality disorder participated in the pilot. Personal records were assessed for the level of involvement in the risk assessment process and individual and focus group interviews tested usefulness of the tool. All participants experienced an increased awareness and knowledge of the risk assessment process and human rights issues. The screen helped them focus on their own risk issues and the rights of others. The authors’ concluded that the screen added value to the risk assessment process by engaging service users in the risk process and supporting the adoption of a more participative, holistic approach to risk management.
Hurting no-one else’s body but your own: people with intellectual disability who self injure in a forensic service
- Authors:
- DUPEROUZEL Helen, FISH Rebecca
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23(6), November 2010, pp.606-615.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
This paper presents findings from an investigation into the experiences of nine people with mild to moderate intellectual disability who self-injure. It looks beyond the clinical presentations in an attempt to capture the perceptions these people have of their care in a medium secure unit. A phenomenological approach was used, and during in-depth interviews, the participants gave descriptions of their experiences of self-injury. Through analysis of the interviews, findings revealed four main themes: coping strategies; staff and the organisational response – therapeutic communication; close observation; and looking to the future. As a coping strategy, self-injury was seen as an effective means of reducing distress; there were unique and common reasons for this distress. Common themes relating to the actions and reactions of health professionals and the organisational response were evident within all accounts. In ending, the clinical implications for service users are highlighted.
‘I can try and do my little bit’ - training staff about self-injury
- Authors:
- MOORES Paul, FISH Rebecca, DUPEROUZEL Helen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Learning Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, 2(1), January 2011, pp.4-7.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article is written from the point of view of a service user who is involved in training staff about working with people who self-injure in the secure learning disability service where he lives. Paul has been employed as a trainer since 2007, and was one of the first service users in this service to be involved in training staff. The training is part of a one-day introduction session about self-injury. Paul introduces himself and does a short talk about his experiences, and then staff delegates are invited to ask him questions for a one hour question and answer session. Paul is paid for the work, and he enjoys it and feels that it has made him more confident. Some of the staff take the course as part of an induction, while others may have been employed at the service for many years. This article tells Paul’s story in his own words, and includes his explanations on why he decided to take part, responses from the trainees, how he feels when he is doing the training, and his motivation for training staff and the good things about the experience.