The ultimate shock absorber: Probation officers' experience of working with male service users on the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fellowes, Eleanor
• Is Part Of: Probation journal. Volume 65:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 152
• Page End: 169
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: mental health -- one-to-one case work -- organizational change -- organizational culture -- personality disorder -- practitioners -- probation -- relationships -- supervision; Probation -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 364.6305
• DOI: 10.1177/0264550518755310
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-5505

Abstract

Since the publication of its strategy in 2012, the Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway continues to develop across the National Probation Service and prison estate. The relational crux of the Pathway exists between the probation officer and service user, with the former holding the lead professional role. This study aimed to develop an understanding of practitioners' experience of inhabiting this role, in order that enhanced insight into the relationship at the centre of the Pathway could emerge. Discussion focuses on the implications of the findings for enabling relational security and psychologically informed practice in complex and risk averse systems.