Impact of a transition service on treatment readiness

  • Research type

    Research Study

  • Full title

    Examination of the impact of a transition service on treatment readiness in a personality disorder population.

  • IRAS ID

    352594

  • Contact name

    Sarah Hicks

  • Contact email

    sarah.hicks@cpft.nhs.uk

  • Sponsor organisation

    Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust

  • Duration of Study in the UK

    0 years, 9 months, 29 days

  • Research summary

    The purpose of this application is to seek permission for a research project which aims to investigate change in treatment readiness of high-risk personality-disordered prisoners located within a transition service. A mixed methods approach will be used, comprising of quantitative analysis of existing data (treatment readiness scores and social climate measures) from clinical records and a qualitative interview of participants to explore their experience within the transition service.

    The transition service is a recent addition to the Fens Service treatment programme located within HMP Whitemoor. The Fens Service is a three-year treatment programme for high-risk offenders within the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway. The pathway aims to reduce risk associated with serious reoffending by improving mental health and wellbeing, and addressing individuals' experiences of trauma and adversity in early life. Following re-commissioning of the Fens Service in 2021 it was identified that there was a need to provide an environment for pre-treatment residents to undertake preparatory work. The Transition Spur was subsequently developed. The Transition Spur houses prisoners waiting to start their treatment. The aims of the transition spur are to reduce treatment drop-out and increase engagement by ensuring that prisoners feel ready for treatment. Evaluation of whether the transition spur successfully improves treatment readiness has yet to be undertaken. This project aims to examine the impact of the transition spur on treatment readiness in this population, whilst also providing insight into readiness-influencing factors for the purpose of service development and improved treatment engagement.

  • REC name

    London - South East Research Ethics Committee

  • REC reference

    25/LO/0186

  • Date of REC Opinion

    18 Mar 2025

  • REC opinion

    Favourable Opinion