Purpose

There is a national drive to transform services for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID), to provide care within the community rather than hospital settings. However, there are limited community provisions for those with more complex care needs such as sexual offending. There has been limited research focussing on this client group’s experiences of inpatient services and the treatment they have received from their own perspective. This study aims to explore their experiences of living in a secure service focussing on treatment for sex offences.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 10 men with ID and sexual offending histories took part in an interview designed to explore their experiences of living within a secure hospital setting. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Three key themes relating to the participants’ experiences within the hospital were identified. These were, namely, “hospital environment”, “personal journey through secure services” and “closeness to home”.

Practical implications

Men’s experiences at a secure hospital were generally positive in terms of a supportive staff approach. Difficulties existed around the hospital organisation affecting the support they received.

Originality/value

Some participants experienced a struggle to become more independent and move to less restrictive environments due to their perceived risk levels. Some participants found being away from home to be hard and longed to be closer to their families. Around half of the participants did not want to live near their hometown due to family difficulties, negative peer influences or fears of consequences for their sexual offending. Implications for community service planning are considered.

中文翻译：

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有智力障碍和性犯罪历史的男性：探索他们在安全的医院环境中生活的经历

目的

全国都在推动为智障 (ID) 人士转变服务，在社区而非医院环境中提供护理。但是，对于那些有更复杂护理需求（例如性犯罪）的人，社区提供的条款有限。很少有研究关注这个客户群体的住院服务经历以及他们从自己的角度接受的治疗。本研究旨在探索他们在安全的服务中生活的经历，该服务专注于性犯罪的治疗。

设计/方法/方法

总共有 10 名有身份和性犯罪历史的男性参加了一项旨在探索他们在安全医院环境中生活的经历的采访。数据采用专题分析法进行分析。

发现

确定了与参与者在医院内的经历相关的三个关键主题。它们分别是“医院环境”、“通过安全服务的个人旅程”和“亲近家”。

实际影响

就员工支持的方式而言，男性在安全医院的经历总体上是积极的。医院组织存在困难，影响了他们获得的支持。

原创性/价值

由于他们感知到的风险水平，一些参与者经历了变得更加独立并转向限制较少的环境的斗争。一些参与者发现离家很困难，并渴望与家人更亲近。由于家庭困难、同伴的负面影响或对性犯罪后果的恐惧，大约一半的参与者不想住在家乡附近。考虑了对社区服务规划的影响。