An assessment of patient need for family intervention in forensic services and staff skill in implementing family interventions

Abstract

Family interventions result in clinical benefits in the treatment of schizophrenia. This report investigates (i) if forensic patients have a need for family intervention, (ii) if staff have the skills to deliver family intervention, and (iii) the availability of family intervention on forensic wards. The needs of 137 forensic patients and skills of 318 forensic staff were assessed. Patients showed considerable unmet need and relapses were common. Most forensic patients (72%) had regular contact with their relatives, of whom 56% were involved in the patient's discharge planning. Only 7% of staff felt that they were skilled in family interventions and less than half of these received clinical supervision in its application. Family interventions were infrequently available. The results indicate that the future development of family interventions in forensic services is worthwhile, as the need is apparent and is supported by regular family contact, but that it is currently rarely available.

Keywords:

• schizophrenia
• forensic services
• family intervention
• family needs
• staff training
• secure services
• skill
• need

Acknowledgement

This research was supported by a grant from the NHS North West Specialised Commissioning Team and part funded by Affinity Health Care that represented the private low secure unit. The authors are grateful to the representatives from the secure units within Mersey Care NHS Trust, 5 Borough's Partnership NHS Trust and Cheshire & Wirral Partnership NHS Trust that participated, along with the staff and patients for their time. This study was submitted as part of Ms V. Absalom's PhD thesis, Division of Clinical Psychology, University of Manchester. Copies of questionnaires and measures developed for the study are available from the first author.