Giving Voice to Adults with LD and Autism in a Secure Setting

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Giving voice to adults with Learning Disability and Autism within a secure setting: A participatory action research (PAR)

• IRAS ID

  167579

• Contact name

  Michaela Thomson

• Contact email

  michaela.thomson@calderstones.nhs.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 11 months, 0 days

• Research summary

  The primary aim of the proposed research is to explore the experiences of adults with a diagnosis of Learning Disability (LD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) residing in a secure setting from a first –person narrative; with a subsidiary aim to produce educational material of some form, to improve service deliverance.
  Prevalence of ASD has been consistently suggested to be much higher among forensic population, reaching up to 15% in comparison to the 1% reported worldwide (Elasabbagh et al., 2012). The overrepresentation, topped with a low level of understanding of the needs for people with ASD and inadequate resources available are costly to both the society and the individuals in concern, as specialised care programme was found to reduce recidivism, detention length and challenging behaviour. This is pertinent for forensic psychiatric service as its aim is to provide care and treatment. .
  Participatory Action Research (PAR) is an inclusive methodology that involves the participant in every stage of the research process, from design to writing up. Involvement range from recorded or filmed interview, poster/leaflets designs etc., in individual or group form. This method allows maximum flexibility to accommodate the features of ASD that can be accomplished by co-researchers involved.
  The study will be conducted at the site of Calderstones Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, a medium and low secure service for adults with a primary diagnosis of Learning Disability and other complex needs. Criteria inclusion is diagnosis of ASD and ability to consent. Eleven months of co-researchers participation is foreseen; however active involvement from design stage to write up of the project, and the complex personal needs of each individual, longer time may be required.
  The proposed study acknowledges the difficulties experienced by ASD adults in a secure setting and echoes the ethos of Valuing People, a Government strategy for LD

• REC name

  North West - Preston Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/NW/0014

• Date of REC Opinion

  29 Jan 2015

• REC opinion

  Unfavourable Opinion