Transitions of Older People from Secure Services (TOPS)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Transitions of Older People from Secure Services (TOPS) - A Qualitative Study of Older Adults’ Experiences of Moving Away from Secure Forensic Services
IRAS ID
266354
Contact name
Fiona Houben
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Canterbury Christ Church University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 4 months, 30 days
Research summary
Forensic mental health services provide care for people with serious long-term mental disorders who are offenders or at risk of offending. The cost of forensic in-patient care in the UK was around £1.7bn in 2016. The proportion of older people is rising in these services, yet their needs have been marginalised in research on older offenders. A study in 2018 on the needs of older forensic in-patients in a South London secure unit noted that referral and discharge to community placement or residential care were particularly complex for the oldest service users (aged 60-80 years), who had many mental and physical health needs. Further investigation of this area would inform quality of care.
This research will examine the experiences of patients aged ≥60 moving out of secure mental health in-patient services and factors contributing to successful placement. The study will use qualitative interviews to gain depth of understanding and highlight service user views.
A total of 10 service users will be recruited across South London. Five current in-patients aged ≥60 who are preparing to move will be interviewed at the start of the study and three months later. Five former in-patients aged ≥60 who transferred out of secure services over the previous year will be interviewed once. Interviews will explore older service user views about being an older adult in secure services, the process of moving out of secure services, and their thoughts about the placements they have been offered or accepted. Interviews with clinicians will identify clinical perspectives on the care pathways of older adults and factors impacting on successful onward placement.
The findings will identify ways to improve transitions out of secure services for older adults who are ready to be discharged and highlight any gaps in placement provision and support.
REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/PR/0814
Date of REC Opinion
17 Dec 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion