Adapting the EssenCES for use in Forensic IDD Services - Validation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Adapting the Essen Climate Evaluation Schema (EssenCES) for use in Forensic Intellectual Developmental Disability (IDD) Services - Validation Study
IRAS ID
275975
Contact name
Natalie Bell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Birmingham City University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 31 days
Research summary
Social climate is a crucial aspect of both treatment and treatment environment in forensic settings. The key characteristics of forensic social climate encompass how safe residents and staff feel, the physical and psychological needs of residents, and how supportive the unit is perceived to be of therapeutic gain. Research has shown that social climate impacts on a range of important clinical/organisational outcomes in forensic psychiatric and correctional settings and it is, therefore, thought to play a crucial role in the successful functioning of prisons and forensic psychiatric hospitals. The Essen Climate Evaluation Schema (EssenCES) is often used to measure social climate, however it hasn’t been validated for use in all settings. This project seeks to adapt the EssenCES so that it can provide reliable and useful information when used within forensic Intellectual Developmental Disability (IDD) settings.
Approval for the first phase of the project was granted through a separate IRAS application, and this phase has been completed. This phase aimed to identify how the EssenCES could be adapted for individuals with IDD. The second phase of the project has also been completed, which involved piloting the EssenCES-IDD with prisoners and staff within HMPPS.
The current application relates to the third phase of the project only. The third phase of the project involves developing a final version of the EssenCES-IDD, which will be completed by patients/prisoners and staff. Staff will also complete the WES-10.
Of note is that this application does not relate to HMPPS as approval for this has already been granted.
The ultimate aim of the project is to provide services with a questionnaire that can be used to help gauge patient/prisoner and staff experience within forensic IDD services, therefore having a useful input into service evaluation/improvement.
REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EE/0093
Date of REC Opinion
11 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion