The purpose of this paper is to consider the existing evidence base regarding community services for people with learning disabilities in the context of transforming care (TC).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to consider the existing evidence base regarding community services for people with learning disabilities in the context of transforming care (TC).
Design/methodology/approach
Reflections and commentary on the provision of community services for people with learning disabilities following Washington et al.’s article on admissions and discharges from assessment and treatment units in England.
Findings
The existing evidence base pertaining to community learning disability teams in the UK is dated, sparse and methodologically weak. A greater focus on researching community services for people with learning disabilities is needed in order to inform best practice guidelines.
Originality/value
The success of the TC agenda is contingent on the provision of high quality community services. However, the focus has been on discharging individuals from hospital, rather than the support available to them once they leave.
Details
Keywords
Regi Alexander, Peter E. Langdon, Verity Chester, Magali Barnoux, Ignatius Gunaratna and Sudeep Hoare
Individuals with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within criminal justice settings are a highly heterogeneous group. Although studies have examined differences between…
Abstract
Purpose
Individuals with diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) within criminal justice settings are a highly heterogeneous group. Although studies have examined differences between those with and without ASD in such settings, there has been no examination of differences within the ASD group. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the findings of a service evaluation project, this paper introduces a typology of ASD within forensic mental health and intellectual disability settings.
Findings
The eight subtypes that are described draw on clinical variables including psychopathy, psychosis and intensity/frequency of problem behaviours that co-occur with the ASD. The initial assessment of inter-rater reliability on the current version of the typology revealed excellent agreement, multirater Kfree =0.90.
Practical implications
The proposed typology could improve understanding of the relationship between ASD and forensic risk, identify the most appropriate interventions and provide prognostic information about length of stay. Further research to refine and validate the typology is ongoing.
Originality/value
This paper introduces a novel, typology-based approach which aims to better serve people with ASD within criminal justice settings.