Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

Mental health support for youth offending teams: a qualitative study

Callaghan, J., Young, B., Pace, F. and Vostanis, P. (2003) Mental health support for youth offending teams: a qualitative study. Health and Social Care in the Community. 11(1), pp. 55-63. 0966-0410.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: The objective of the present study was to examine the views of professionals working in youth offending teams (YOTs) on a new model for providing mental health service support within the context of an interagency setting. Focus groups were used and data were analysed according to the constant comparative method. The setting consisted of two YOTs, one in an inner-city area and the other in a rural/semi-urban area, where primary mental health workers operate at the interface between YOTs and the specialist child and adolescent mental health services. Seventeen YOT professionals participated in four focus groups. Four themes were identified: previous experiences of specialist mental health services; issues of interagency working; the role of the primary mental health worker within the YOT; and recommendations for the future. Overall, the clinical component of the role (assessment and intervention), and the accessibility and responsiveness of the mental health staff were consistently valued, while there were mixed responses on role definitions within the team, consultation and training. It is concluded that mental health service provision through primary mental health workers is a useful model for interagency partnerships for high-risk client groups with multiple and complex mental health needs.
Uncontrolled Keywords: child mental health;focus groups;interagency;primary mental health workers;young offenders
Subjects: R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA790 Mental health services. Mental illness prevention
R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics > RJ499 Mental disorders. Child psychiatry > RJ503 Adolescent psychiatry
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF76.5 Psychology research
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV9051 The juvenile offender. Juvenile delinquency
Creators: Callaghan, Jane, Young, Bridget, Pace, Frances and Vostanis, Panos
Publisher: Blackwell
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Social and Cultural Research in Psychology Group
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology
Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences
Date: 2003
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 55-63
Journal or Publication Title: Health and Social Care in the Community
Volume: 11
Number: 1
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2524.2003.00400.x
ISSN: 0966-0410
Status: Published / Disseminated
Refereed: Yes
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/3526

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