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The challenges of working with sexual offenders who have autism in secure services

Shaunagh MacDonald (Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK)
Jane Clarbour (Department of Psychology, University of York, York, UK)
Clare Whitton (Learning Disability Forensic Service, Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, Middlesbrough, UK)
Kelly Rayner (Learning Disability Forensic Service, Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust, Knaresborough, UK)

Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour

ISSN: 2050-8824

Article publication date: 13 March 2017

443

Abstract

Purpose

Previous literature has reported that working with sexual offenders can impact staff negatively (Hatcher and Noakes, 2010). In addition, working with individuals with intellectual disability also appears to be challenging. There are benefits stated of working with sexual offenders and the purpose of this paper is to seek to highlight the challenges and positive experiences of staff members working with sexual offenders who have autism.

Design/methodology/approach

As working with this population has not been previously investigated, a semi-structured interview was conducted to explore the challenges and benefits of working with this population. Eight participants were interviewed who work on the autism specialist ward at a forensic secure hospital in the UK.

Findings

Template analysis identified three master themes: mediating factors, challenges and consequences, which were incorporated into the Model of Person-Organisation Wellbeing (M-POW). The findings show the specific challenges of working with a population that has not been previously studied.

Research limitations/implications

The study utilised a small, heterogeneous self-selecting sample from one clinical site.

Practical implications

Findings suggest there are a number of specific challenges this staff group face, and steps that can be taken at the personal and organisational level to mediate these. Recommendations are made for how staff are supported in their work from recruitment and induction onwards.

Originality/value

The M-POW highlights mediating factors that can be adjusted to develop more effective coping strategies for working in what, for some, is a challenging environment. This model provides a framework that can be adopted by organisations to ensure that the likelihood of their staff experiencing negative feelings is reduced and also suggests future avenues of research.

Keywords

Citation

MacDonald, S., Clarbour, J., Whitton, C. and Rayner, K. (2017), "The challenges of working with sexual offenders who have autism in secure services", Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, Vol. 8 No. 1, pp. 41-54. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIDOB-10-2016-0020

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2017, Emerald Publishing Limited

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