Rights statement: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Barker, L., McKeown, A., Small, M. and Meggs, J. (2021), Validating the Essen Climate Evaluation Schema modified for people with learning disabilities in a low‐risk secure forensic setting. Crim Behav Ment Health. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.2175 which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbm.2175 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
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Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Validating the Essen Climate Evaluation Schema modified for people with learning disabilities in a low‐risk secure forensic setting
AU - Barker, Lyndsie
AU - McKeown, Annette
AU - Small, Michelle
AU - Meggs, Jenny
N1 - This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Barker, L., McKeown, A., Small, M. and Meggs, J. (2021), Validating the Essen Climate Evaluation Schema modified for people with learning disabilities in a low‐risk secure forensic setting. Crim Behav Ment Health. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.2175 which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cbm.2175 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
PY - 2021/4/30
Y1 - 2021/4/30
N2 - Background: Research has shown that an empowering and nurturing yet challenging work climate is beneficial for people receiving clinical services as it increases patient satisfaction, motivation, engagement, therapeutic alliance and functional improvement. Therefore, for inpatients, monitoring, encouraging and understanding ward climate holds considerable potential for improving forensic mental health services. To date, the most widely employed tool for ward-climate, the EssenCES, has been evidenced as useful in medium and high security hospitals, but little tested with people with learning disabilities or in low security services. Aims: To establish the internal consistency and factor validity of the EssenCES, modified for easier reading, in a low secure hospital unit for people with learning disabilities. Method: Language in the EssenCES was simplified and picture supplements added to facilitate comprehension. Patients completed the scale as part of their clinical routine, supported by NHS employed psychology assistants. The research team, entirely independent of NHS staff, extracted data form the electronic records of purposively sampled residents in a low-secure forensic hospital setting for people with learning disabilities. Findings: 276 records (70% men) were acquired. The EssenCES was shown to have good factor validity and retained the original three factor model including the subscales: therapeutic hold, safety and cohesion. One single-item from the ‘therapeutic hold’ subscale was removed to improve the internal consistency (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study adds preliminary support for the use of the EssenCES (with removal of one item) in individuals with learning disabilities within low-risk secure forensic hospital settings.
AB - Background: Research has shown that an empowering and nurturing yet challenging work climate is beneficial for people receiving clinical services as it increases patient satisfaction, motivation, engagement, therapeutic alliance and functional improvement. Therefore, for inpatients, monitoring, encouraging and understanding ward climate holds considerable potential for improving forensic mental health services. To date, the most widely employed tool for ward-climate, the EssenCES, has been evidenced as useful in medium and high security hospitals, but little tested with people with learning disabilities or in low security services. Aims: To establish the internal consistency and factor validity of the EssenCES, modified for easier reading, in a low secure hospital unit for people with learning disabilities. Method: Language in the EssenCES was simplified and picture supplements added to facilitate comprehension. Patients completed the scale as part of their clinical routine, supported by NHS employed psychology assistants. The research team, entirely independent of NHS staff, extracted data form the electronic records of purposively sampled residents in a low-secure forensic hospital setting for people with learning disabilities. Findings: 276 records (70% men) were acquired. The EssenCES was shown to have good factor validity and retained the original three factor model including the subscales: therapeutic hold, safety and cohesion. One single-item from the ‘therapeutic hold’ subscale was removed to improve the internal consistency (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study adds preliminary support for the use of the EssenCES (with removal of one item) in individuals with learning disabilities within low-risk secure forensic hospital settings.
U2 - 10.1002/cbm.2175
DO - 10.1002/cbm.2175
M3 - Journal article
VL - 31
SP - 143
EP - 150
JO - Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health
JF - Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health
SN - 0957-9664
IS - 2
ER -