Advanced Considerations when Working with Offenders
MODULE CODE
CREDIT VALUE
Module Aims
Aim 1
Identify theories of mental disorder (e.g., mental illness and personality disorder), with a focus on the application of forensic psychology to such offenders.
Aim 2
Describe the assessments and interventions applied and examine the implications of working with offenders who present with mental disorders (e.g., mental illness, personality disorder, learning disability).
Aim 3
Outline the ethical and practical issues when assessing and treating offenders with mental disorders, examining issues such as “consent”, “capacity”, “responsibility” and “treatability”, and when compiling/presenting treatment reports.
Aim 4
Develop students’ practical skills for dealing with clients who are highly distressed.
Aim 5
Identify the context in which forensic psychologists’ practice, with reference to the legal framework relating to mentally disordered offenders, and the role of psychologists in relation to this framework.
Aim 6
Identify the theoretical basis underpinning treatment approaches when working with forensic clients.
Aim 7
Describe the approaches and/or assessments used to explore treatment suitability.
Module Content
The module captures the following content:
• The patient versus offender debate: Overview of the research, ethical and practical arguments, and implications for risk assessment.
• Working with mentally disordered offenders: Implications for assessment, management, and treatment.
• An introduction to mental illness, (e.g., schizophrenia, psychoses) as well as other mental health disorders (e.g., anxiety disorders, depressive disorders).
The module will explore how diversity and inclusion can be integrated into offenders’ treatment programs, such as offering culturally appropriate interventions or addressing issues related to gender discrimination in forensic settings.
• An introduction to personality disorders and the current debates.
• Therapy interfering behaviours: Overview and practical techniques for minimising.
• Mental disorders: Overview of the role of psychologists in relation to the legal framework and current considerations
• An introduction to working with distressed clients: (e.g., suicide and deliberate self-injury), and practical techniques for dealing with acute mental health distress.
• Ethical considerations when working with mentally disordered offenders, such as “Capacity”, “Consent”, “Responsibility” and “Treatability”. The ‘what works’ debate and effective treatment approaches for offenders across the lifespan.
• Assessment approaches and how these link to treatment.
• Motivational engagement approaches: Assessing readiness for treatment and also applying it to offenders in denial/experiencing ‘resistance’.
• Treatment approaches for violent offenders across the lifespan: Overview of approaches and examples of psychological techniques employed.
• Treatment approaches for sexual offenders across the lifespan: Overview of approaches and examples of psychological techniques employed. • Summarising treatment outcome: Compiling and presenting treatment needs reports to clients.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module, a student will be able to:
Teaching Methods
The module will be taught via formal lectures and seminars. The lectures will provide the theory behind the complex presentations, violent and sexual offending, and the treatment approaches, and how these link to assessment; in doing so, outlining ethical and professional considerations. The seminar will allow students the opportunity to learn and employ practical skills that would be appropriate for dealing with forensic clients with complex presentations and will allow them to critically examine the ethical and practical issues that must be considered when working with this client group. It will also give students the opportunity to learn and employ motivational engagement techniques.
Assessment Methods
This module is assessed through one Examination and one Treatment needs Report.
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