Survey of Experience, Training and Working Practices Among Staff Working With Adolescent Sex Offenders in Secure Units (From Sexual Offenders: Context, Assessment and Treatment, P 19-26, 1993, Noel K Clark and Geoffrey M Stephenson, eds. -- See NCJ-150890)

• NCJ Number: 150893
• Author(s): K Epps
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 8 pages
• Sale Source: British Psychological Soc
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

A questionnaire survey of staff working in 12 secure facilities in the United Kingdom for difficult and delinquent young people was conducted to assess services provided to these youth and service provider experience and training.

Abstract

The questionnaire covered staff characteristics, qualifications and professional training in working with sex offenders, experience in working with adolescent sex offenders, level of management and clinical support and supervision, assessment methods, treatment approaches, and confidence in treatment approaches. Of 207 questionnaires distributed, 147 were returned and usable. Results showed that few, if any, secure units offered a structured, systematic, and well-informed approach to managing and treating adolescent sex offenders. Only 11 percent of surveyed staff received training in sex offender work, and over 50 percent worked without supervision. Many staff were dissatisfied with the supervision they did receive. There appeared to be excessive reliance on ill-defined and unstructured intervention methods. The author concludes that staff who work with adolescent sex offenders need experience and training in sex therapy, assessment, clinical, treatment, and management skills and that staff must be properly supervised and supported. 16 references, 3 tables, and 2 figures