Sarah Supple &
Francesca Burgess

A Case Study regarding In Reach custodial work using a CAT informed approach.

Poster Session Abstract

The Norfolk Harmful Sexual Behaviour Team offer support, advice and training to any professionals working in the locality with children and young people displaying any level of HSB. We also offer direct interventions for young people when deemed appropriate.

We are a partnership team, comprising of HSB specialists and senior practitioners (from Norfolk county Counsil) anda principle, clinical and assistant psychologist ( from Norfolk and Suffolk foundation trust). This partnership means we blend the specialist HSB knowledge and approach with a psychologically led approach.

This poster will exemplify partnership working in practice by presenting direct work undertaken with a young person in custody following being convicted of a sexual offence. The Norfolk Youth Justice Service liaised with the Norfolk HSB team who then undertook some in reach custody work to ensure the needs of the young person were considered using complimenting professional skill sets.

This was a pilot regarding undertaking therapeutic work while the young person was still in custody, aiming to ensure early access to therapeutic support and creating the opportunity to discuss the HSB as close as possible to the event happening.This work combined psychoeducative HSB work with a CAT approach. This approach was chosen in order to be responsive to the specific presentation and needs of the young person as they had experienced multiple traumas, including relational trauma. This meant that the behaviour relating to the conviction could be addressed, alongside broader HSB work but that this was blended with therapeutic and trauma informed relational approach.

The poster will highlight both the practical aspects of undertaking this work and outline the therapeutic and educative approaches. It will also include some reflections about the benefits and limitations of this work and make some recommendations regarding future similar interventions.

Biography

Dr Supple is the Principle Counselling Psychologist and clinical lead of the Norfolk Harmful sexual behaviour team. She has worked for over 20 years in the NHS, initially within mental health services and for the last 10 years in partnership projects, working alongside children’s services. She is also a cognitive analytic therapy practitioner and uses this relational approach in her daily work.

Francesca is currently the Operational Lead and HSB Specialist for Norfolk County Council’s Harmful Sexual Behaviour service. Francesca has 25 yearsexperience in the HSB field, working with adults andchildren in forensic and community settings. Back to Posters