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A collaborative approach to meeting the needs of adolescent offenders with complex needs in custodial settings: an 18-month cohort study
- Authors:
- RYAN Tony, MITCHELL Paul
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology (The), 22(3), June 2011, pp.437-454.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Previous research has indicated that adolescent offenders have high levels of mental health problems. Although mental health services are provided within all Young Offender Institution (YOIs), these services can find it difficult to meet the needs of young offenders whose mental health needs are compounded and inextricably linked with their behaviours. This study took place in a YOI in North-West England which had undergone a radical overhaul of the mental health services including the establishment of a Complex Needs Unit to meet the needs of the young people who could not be cared for effectively on the main residential wards. The unit provides individualised, highly structured and consistent care to up to 10 young people. It uses a multi-agency approach in which prison officers work in collaboration with mental health staff. This article describes the aims of the unit and reports on a study to evaluate its effectiveness. Data was collected on the first 41 admissions to the unit between February 2008 and July 2009. The results indicate that the young people on the unit derived significant benefit from the intensive and highly structured regime, although many were unable to successfully reintegrate. This collaborative approach between custody staff and mental health professionals can significant improve behavioural and social functioning for young offenders with multiple and complex needs.