CM4S161 - Approaches to Forensic Mental Health 01 Sep 2023 - 31 Aug 2029 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: CM4S161
Module Title: Approaches to Forensic Mental Health
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Policing and Criminology
Faculty Sub Group: Criminology
Module Leader: cody Porter
Module Team: Rachel Taylor, Daniel Welch, Helen Martin, Ian McKim
First Intended Intake: SEP 2023 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 20 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100484 - criminology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2023
Valid To 31 Aug 2029

Module Aims

This module aims to:

Foster a sophisticated critical appreciation of the impact of adverse childhood experiences and trauma on the development of mental health challenges.

Develop skills in critically appraising interventions for forensic mental health – including how best to communicate this efficacy to practitioners.

Content Summary

This module will first briefly introduce students to the relevant legislation and practice relevant to supporting those in forensic mental health settings. This will be presented alongside any relevant policy which supports those with mental health challenges in other settings (e.g. Prison, Probation). The rest of the module will then be organised around three phases of delivery:

How do mental health challenges develop?

Frameworks to support those in forensic mental health settings.

Interventions for forensic mental health settings.

The first phase will normally include a critical assessment of the role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on mental health and offending. This will include critical discussion of immediate and long-term impacts including aspects such as multiple and complex trauma, allostatic load and the role of early childhood trauma on neuropsychological development. Additionally this section will review coping strategies and the impacts of stigma about mental health and offending on this process. This phase will be contextualised with reference to different populations and offences.

The second phase will critically compare the use of medicalised frameworks based on psychopathology with trauma-informed approaches when supporting those with forensic mental health needs. Students will be introduced to the Power Threat Meaning Framework as a means of eliciting narratives from and identifying strengths in service users. These frameworks will provide pointers to the final phase of delivery. In this final section, traditional cognitive behavioural approaches will be contrasted with other perspectives. These will include therapeutic interventions based on compassion-focussed strengths based and self-determination approaches as well as the use of creative arts interventions.

A key feature of this module will be students’ participation in an immersive Hydra activity organised collectively across this and other modules being delivered in the same term. This will provide students with an opportunity to test out some of the frameworks and address challenges with implementing certain interventions.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Practical classes and workshops 28
Independent Study 120
Directed Study 50
Active/Simulation Based 2
Total Hours Selected 200

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically assess the efficacy of, and challenges with, implementing intervention in forensic mental health settings
LO2 Present and articulate evidence-based solutions in a professional and practitioner-focussed manner

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Asynchronous Assessment Report 1 A report which critically assesses the efficacy and implementation of an intervention or approach to intervention applicable to the forensic mental health field. 0 3500 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Report 1 ✔ ✔

Reading List

British Psychological Society (2023). Resource Hub for the Power Threat Meaning Framework. Available at: https://www.bps.org.uk/member-networks/division-clinical-psychology/power-threat-meaning-framework

Fitton, L., Yu, R., & Fazel, S. (2020). Childhood maltreatment and violent outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies.?Trauma, Violence, & Abuse,?21(4), 754-768. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838018795269

Folk, J. B., Kemp, K., Yurasek, A., Barr-Walker, J., & Tolou-Shams, M. (2021). Adverse childhood experiences among justice-involved youth: Data-driven recommendations for action using the sequential intercept model.?American Psychologist,?76(2), 268-283. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000769

Gueta, K., Chen, G. and Ronel, N. (2022). Trauma-oriented recovery framework with offenders: A necessary missing link in offenders’ rehabilitation. Aggression & Violent Behaviour, 63, 101678. Doi: 10.1016/j.avb.2021.101678

Hawes, D. J., Lechowicz, M., Roach, A., Fisher, C., Doyle, F. L., Noble, S., & Dadds, M. R. (2021). Capturing the developmental timing of adverse childhood experiences: The adverse life experiences scale.?American Psychologist,?76(2), 253-267. doi:https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000760

Karatzias T. and Buxton, C. (2016) – Recommendations for education and training of psychologists when working with psychological trauma. The British Psychological Society, Crisis, Disaster and Trauma Psychology Section. Available from: https://www.bps.org.uk/node/1690

Malvaso, C. G., Cale, J., Whitten, T., Day, A., Singh, S., Hackett, L., . . . Ross, S. (2022). Associations between adverse childhood experiences and trauma among young people who offend: A systematic literature review.?Trauma, Violence, & Abuse,?23(5), 1677-1694. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/15248380211013132

Stinson, J. D., Quinn, M. A., Menditto, A. A., & LeMay, C. C. (2021). Adverse childhood experiences and the onset of aggression and criminality in a forensic inpatient sample.?The International Journal of Forensic Mental Health,?doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/14999013.2021.1895375

Trebilcock, J. (2019). Mental Health and Offending: Care, Coercion and Control. Routledge

Willmot, P. and Jones, L. (2022). Trauma Informed Forensic Practice. Routledge