Editorial

Neil Gredecki (Private Practice, UK AND Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK)
Carol Ireland (School of Psychology, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK AND CCATS: Coastal Child and Adult Therapeutic Services, Poulton-le-Fylde, UK)

The Journal of Forensic Practice

ISSN: 2050-8794

Article publication date: 8 August 2016

181

Citation

Gredecki, N. and Ireland, C. (2016), "Editorial", The Journal of Forensic Practice, Vol. 18 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-04-2016-0023

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited


Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Journal of Forensic Practice, Volume 18, Issue 3.

Welcome to the latest issue of the Journal of Forensic Practice. This issue reflects the diverse nature of forensic practice with a series of international papers across a range of settings including policing, prisons and forensic hospitals and involving a range of client groups.

This issue starts with a paper linked to interviewing and policing by Sally Galovic and colleagues which presents results from a qualitative study using a thematic approach to explore the complaints system within the New South Wales Police Force in Australia. This study reveals how the complaints system impacts on both the working conditions and workplace environment of police officers, as well as impacting on the professional relationships amongst each other. A number of implications for practice are outlined relating to the administration of the complaints process.

Three papers follow based on inpatient forensic mental health settings. The first by Professor Camilla Haw and colleagues describes a completed audit cycle of the assessment and documentation of antipsychotic side effects reported by patients in a secure hospital setting. Based on their findings, the authors recommend the use of structured tools or guides to monitor patients’ side effects from antipsychotic medication in order to recognise, track and manage emergent side effects in order to reduce the likelihood of relapses. Next, James Tapp and colleagues’ research paper presents a consensus study exploring the essential elements of treatment and care in high-secure forensic inpatient services. Their three-round Delphi survey aims to establish whether experts with clinical and/or research experience in this setting could reach consensus on elements of high-security hospital services that would be essential to the rehabilitation of forensic patients. Based on the varied findings across the three rounds, they outline possible explanations linked to the patient population and the Delphi method. The last of these three papers is by Professor Clive Long and colleagues and they describe healthy lifestyle initiatives in secure psychiatric facilities and the evidence base for these interventions. The authors advocate a trans-diagnostic approach to lifestyle behaviour change and the article provides a synthesis of findings in key areas of behaviour change relevant to improving the physical health of psychiatric patients in secure settings. It is claimed that instituting and implementing change may need to be a driven by a culture change that places equal emphasis on the physical and mental health of psychiatric in patients.

The following two papers focus on prison settings, although they continue to link to forensic mental health outcomes. The first paper by Jennifer Hadden and colleagues presents a qualitative exploration of staff and prisoner experiences of a newly commissioned personality disorder service within a category B male establishment in the UK. The research concludes that staff and prisoner experiences demonstrate that a multi-disciplinary approach to personality disorder services is desirable and can be effective. Then, the research paper by Hazel McBride and Dr Carol Ireland explores the impact of coping style, self-efficacy, resilience and emotional reaction of trauma related intrusions in a sample of 152 young offenders in custody. The number of traumatic events experienced by the young people did not impact on self-efficacy, resilience or coping strategy used. A number of findings are outlined across the variables examined and the research suggests that those professionals working with young offenders with trauma related intrusions should focus on building strengths in the areas of problem focused coping, self-efficacy and resilience.

The final paper in this issue by Vanessa Delle-Vergini and Professor Andrew Day from Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, provides an overview of current practice in forensic case formulation. It describes different approaches, discussing some of the practical and ethical issues that routinely arise. The paper further identifies areas where future practice and research might be strengthened. The authors suggest that ultimately, the absence of a consistent approach can lead to lead to poor clinical decision making and the delivery of inadequate or inappropriate intervention.

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