V1Transitional experience of intellectually disabled forensic patients
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Transitional Experiences of Men with Intellectual Disabilities, and a History of Violent Offending, who have Resettled into the Community from Secure Settings.
IRAS ID
296796
Contact name
Shaw Tearle
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Coventry University
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
P115901, Coventry University Ethics
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 6 months, 29 days
Research summary
This project aims to explore the transitional psychological experiences of offenders with intellectual disabilities (ID) who have resettled into the community from secure settings.
ID is as a neurodevelopmental disorder (American Psychiatric Association, 2013) representing significantly below average intellectual functioning and impairments in adaptive behaviour relative to other people. Approximately 1.5 million people in the United Kingdom (UK) live with an ID (DoH, 2009). Approximately 51% of people detained in secure services for sexual/violent offences had mild ID (O’Brien et al., 2010). However, despite receiving forensic inpatient care, recidivism rates are high after discharge (Lindsay et al., 2013). The Transforming Care Agenda gave increased impetus to closing inpatient beds (NHS England, 2015), however this national plan is criticised for not meeting the distinct needs of people with ID (PWID)and forensic histories (Taylor et al., 2017. Presently, research has not explored the lived experiences of men with mild ID, and forensic histories, who have transitioned back into the community from secure settings.
The multisite study will employ an Interpretative Phenomenological Approach (IPA) and involve conducting two semi-structured telephone interviews with each of the 10 participants (approximately) recruited from Midlands NHS mental health (MH) trusts. The participants will be male, aged over 18, formally diagnosed with mild ID, have a history of sexual and/or violent offending and have resettled into the community within the last 56 months. The interview will address transitional psychological experiences, such as relationships, expectations of community living and preparedness, safety and contact with professional services, self-esteem/identity, and lifestyle/community participation.
Findings are anticipated to help improve the experience of future community transitions for PWID and forensic histories; supporting PWID to share their lived experiences seeks to better meet their distinct needs, by increasing professionals’ insight into what health support may facilitate successful future community resettlement, social/occupational participation and safety.
REC name
West Midlands - Coventry & Warwickshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/WM/0124
Date of REC Opinion
26 May 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion