The implementation of case formulation by probation officers: service user and carer views

Brown, Susan; V�llm, Birgit

Abstract

Background: The recent UK Government strategy on high-risk offenders with personality disorders (PD) proposes improved identification of this group, assessment of their treatment needs through case formulation (CF) and the subsequent provision of treatment pathways. Little is known about service user and carer views on this strategy.

Aims/Hypotheses: This study sought to identify the views of personality-disordered (PD) offenders and carers on the proposed role of Probation staff in CF. Methods: Three focus groups were carried out, two with service users and one with carers, with a total of 10 participants overall. Results: Five themes emerged: ‘power’, ‘conflicting roles’, ‘trust’, ‘building a relationship through consistency of care’ and ‘hope and possibility’.

Conclusions/Practical implications: Offenders and carers were sceptical regarding the proposed role of Offender Manager (OMs) in CF and this could pose a potential barrier to the successful implementation of the strategy.

Citation

Brown, S., & Völlm, B. (2016). The implementation of case formulation by probation officers: service user and carer views. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology, 27(2), 215-231. https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2015.1122821

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jan 8, 2016
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Mar 1, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 1, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology
• Print ISSN: 1478-9949
• Electronic ISSN: 1478-9957
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 215-231
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14789949.2015.1122821
• Keywords: Assessment, Personality disorder, Probation, Case formulation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/979815
• Publisher URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14789949.2015.1122821
• Additional Information: The Version of ; Record of this manuscript has been published and is available in Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology 2016 ; http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/14789949.2015.1122821