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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Iain McKinnonORCiD
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BackgroundSpecialist forensic community teams for people with intellectual disability and/or autism have been developed in the UK, but their extent and delivery are not well described.MethodsWe sent an online survey to each UK Trust/Health Board providing adult mental health and/or intellectual disability services. Questions covered the availability, structure and activities of specialist community forensic services. We summarised the data and explored associations around access to specialist forensic teams and care using statistical tests. Free-text survey responses were analysed using thematic analysis to explore the challenges of providing community forensic mental health services for people with intellectual disability and/or autism.Results49 out of 78 (63%) Trusts/Health Boards responded. 25 (51%) had access to a specialist forensic community team. Teams operated either as part of a single Trust/Board (n = 13) or over a larger regional area (n = 12). Presence of specialist forensic community teams was associated with better access to offence-related interventions and co-production of patient care plans. There was a wide variation in availability, expertise and perceived quality of available services. The availability of secure and generic in-patient beds, commissioning and legal barriers were also challenges to providing appropriate good quality care.ConclusionsCoverage of specialist community forensic teams for people with intellectual disability and/or autism varies across the UK. It appears that specialised teams are associated with improved care processes, but there is a need to explore longer term outcomes to ascertain the best model of community care.DisclosuresNo disclosures.
Author(s): McKinnon I, Whitehouse E, Harris M, Ciausu V, McCarthy J, Sheehan R
Editor(s): European Association of Mental Health in Intellectual Disability (EAMHID)
Publication type: Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstract)
Publication status: Published
Conference Name: 15th Congress of Mental Health in Intellectual Disability - EAMHID25
Year of Conference: 2025
Acceptance date: 18/03/2025
URL: https://eamhid.eu/congress/ghent-2025/
