Case formulation in personality disordered offenders: Views from the front line

Abstract

Case formulation (CF) is a process that provides a psychological understanding of a person's difficulties and results in an intervention plan to address them. CF may be particularly useful in complex cases; yet the evidence base on its application in forensic settings is limited. Nevertheless, CF is a key part of the UK government's strategy for high-risk personality disordered offenders. As part of this strategy, probation staff are expected to carry out CF in order to inform interventions for these offenders. This study sought to access the experience of probation staff of working with personality disordered offenders and their views around their role in the strategy and what challenges and benefits might arise. Three focus groups were carried out, each with 6-7 probation staff. Four themes emerged. Firstly, staff reported a lack of personality disorder (PD)-specific training, and the work that they do with PD offenders is hampered by this. Secondly, probation staff experience difficulties when attempting to obtain help for PD offenders, including diagnostic assessments and treatment for those already diagnosed. Thirdly, the work probation staff currently do with offenders covers similar areas as CF but with a different focus. Fourthly, participants welcomed the prospect of PD-specific training but were concerned that they should be appropriately supervised and not left to carry out work for which they feel under-trained. Our findings point towards potential benefits in providing probation staff with PD-specific training in order to implement the PD offender strategy. Issues relating to the lack of provision of appropriate treatment and the need for relevant supervision of probation staff conducting CF need to be addressed in order to enhance the successful operation of the strategy.