1. Assessment and Treatment of Young Adults
Shauneen Lenzi & Ian Mc Glade PBNI Sarah-Jane Morgan & Mandy Wright NIPS

2. The Challenge Small numbers Diverse group – Risk and Needs
Traditional programmes are for ‘adults’

3. Problems with Traditional Programmes
Group based
Start, middle and end same for all
Similar needs (risk and deviance)
Assumptions about sexual interests and distorted thinking patterns

4. Prior to Safer Lives? Single Agency Assessment work
Non-offending specific programmes available
Offer to transfer to adult establishment to do group work

5. Key Driver for Change Trevor Hamilton case (2003)
Not required to address offending
Released regardless of risk
Very High Risk
Escalating offending
Attitude to offending
Failure to address offending behaviour
SCR – need for programme intervention
New Sentencing Framework – CJO (2008)

6. Project Team set up to consider
Needs of this offender group
Programmes/Approaches available
A programme which is transferable (custody & community)
Multidisciplinary

7. Key Themes / Findings
Developmentally group were more similar to juveniles than to traditional adult offenders
Variance in risk and deviance classifications
Programmes available & accredited for this group

8. AIM Project & GMAP Approach designed for Under 18’s
Focuses on the individual and their needs
Holistic Approach – not focusing solely on sexual offending
Considers strengths as well as concerns

9. 3 Levels / Phases AIM2 Initial Assessment AIM Comprehensive Assessment
Intervention (sexual and non-sexual)

10. Holistic Approach – 4 Domains
Sexual and Non-sexual harmful behaviour
Developmental
Family
Environmental
Strengths and Concerns
Static and Dynamic

11. Why Safer Lives Project
Based on the Good Lives Model
About the young person and others having safer lives
An approach - ‘Programme’ implies group work

12. Therapeutic Approaches Utilised
Provides experience and knowledge from a variety of disciplines
Enables to transference of good practice between agencies
Provides continuity for the young person and their significant others
Sharing of resources
Multi agency decision making

13. Case Study – Tony Background Information (Court Report)

14. Exercise
Based on what we know about Tony, who has just come into custody what would be your thoughts or concerns as?
Tony
Landing Staff
Professional Staff
Other inmates

15. Tony’s Areas of Need Poor Sexual Knowledge / Sex Education
Emotional Loneliness
Sexual Interests?
Anger
Lack of Assertiveness
Self Esteem & Coping Strategies (Art Therapy)
Victim Awareness
Risk Scenarios and Preparing for Release

16. Sexual Interests Did not establish positive peer relationships
Missed a lot of school
Bullied at home and at school (Tony was victim)
On his own a lot (EL)
Identified with younger children

17. Sexual Interests
Line Drawings / Pictures – of limited benefit as more teenage/adult based
Developmental Silhouettes – identified preferred victim outline
Skinny (long lean look) )
No curves )
Short hair ) “ Prepubescent”
Shorter than Tony *NB )
Male or female )
Younger (6-10) )

18. Anger & Control Recognised ‘Mr Nice’ and ‘Mr Nasty’
Reputation for fighting – liked to be seen as a hard man
Recognised that loneliness led to anger
Knew from an early age how to get what I wanted
Carry a stick
Being in charge = Power
Secrets and threats

19. Preparing Tony for Release
Identified potential feelings, thoughts, situations and scenarios
ACE Approach (Don’t go there, Keep in control… think of the consequences, Get away from it NOW!)

20. Risky Things Identified
Feelings (lonely, angry, isolated)
Situations / Events (family problems, illness, singling someone out, being around younger ones, things not going right for me)
Behaviour (walking around tensed up, secretive behaviour, asking a young one to meet him somewhere, offering a young one a cigarette)
Places (Parks, schools, where I live, places where no-one can see me)

21. Supports Self awareness and self talk Family & Friends Professionals
Activities
Education
Developing interests
Get a job

22. How work with these? Recognise the situation
Consider inner/self talk – develop alternatives
Roleplay the scenarios and alternatives (e.g. on a bus or in a queue).

23. Tony’s Personal Reminder Statement
“Think of the family I will lose and
the people I will hurt.”

24. Transition into the Community
Exercise:
From your Table’s perspective (on card);
Thinking, concerns, challenges of Tony’s release?
What needs to be put in place to assist Tony and you?
Handovers into the community?

25. Release

26. Risk Management

27. Change Management

28. Labels

32. Living In The Community
Early Days
Present

33. Strengths-Based Approach
Reintegration/desistance
Specific Praise & Encouragement
Create Hope & Optimism
Display Empathy
Supporting desisting identities
Encourage Personal Responsibility
Develop Strengths & Abilities

34. What were the challenges? Were they ‘normal behaviours’?
Personal
Identity – media & community
Social Media
Friendships
Family & friends
Relationships
Practical
Moving out
Living alone for the first time

35. What worked

36. Relationships

37. When is enough enough? Life beyond supervision
Creating the opportunity for ‘normal’ life development
Reflect and tune in to what you are presented with in terms of past behaviour and who you are working with in relation to young adult development

38. Hope