Validation of a Measure to Understand Trauma Informed Beliefs

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Validation of a Measure to Understand Trauma Informed Beliefs in Forensic Mental Health and Intellectual Disability Services

• IRAS ID

  270713

• Contact name

  Eavan Owens

• Contact email

  eavan.owens@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Portsmouth

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 6 months, 28 days

• Research summary

  There is a growing movement for forensic mental health (FMH) and intellectual disability (ID) services to adopt a trauma-informed approach to caring for service users. However, in the absence of validated measurement tools they are unable to determine the extent to which service users experience their care as trauma-informed. It is argued that service users detained in a secure hospital setting are an important source of information regarding the care they receive. The Chief Investigator is a Forensic Psychologist in Training and is employed by Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) in a FMH and ID service. In a previous study conducted by the Chief Investigator (IRAS Project ID: 269431), service users residing in KMPT’s FMH and ID service participated in focus groups exploring their experiences of receiving care with reference to Harris and Fallot’s (2001) key principles of TIC; safety, trustworthiness, choice, collaboration and empowerment. Data generated from the focus groups was analysed by the Chief Investigator using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis and the subordinate themes of autonomy and connectedness were identified. The themes informed the development of a questionnaire to measure the extent to which service users experience the care they receive in FMH and ID services as trauma-informed. The proposed study aims to explore the psychometric properties of the questionnaire. The questionnaire will be administered to service users in FHM and ID services across multiple NHS sites in the UK and assessed for validity and reliability.

  References:
  Harris, M., & Fallot, R. D. (2001). Envisioning a trauma‐informed service system: a vital paradigm shift. New Directions for Mental Health Services, 89, 3-22. doi: 0.1002/yd.23320018903

• REC name

  London - Surrey Borders Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  20/LO/0855

• Date of REC Opinion

  23 Jun 2020

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion