Using the Evaluation of Social Interaction (ESI) with men in a low secure forensic unit

Abstract

Statement of context

This practice analysis explored the utility of the Evaluation of Social Interaction (ESI) in a 12-bedded male in-patient low secure forensic unit in England. The ESI is a standardised observational assessment of the person engaging in two social exchanges in naturalistic settings with real social partners.

Critical reflection on practice

The ESI helped identify specific social interaction skills that supported and skills that limited competent quality of social interaction. This enabled the men to better understand why they had social interaction problems, thus improve their motivation to engage in planning their own treatment and resulted in positive re-enforcement during the intervention.

Implications for practice

The ESI is suitable to use in forensic and mental health settings. Unexpected outcomes included a more productive team, a more settled atmosphere and reduced levels of frustration for both staff and clients.

Keywords

Social occupation social interaction skills mental health social skills recovery

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Claydon

(2007) Social skills training in secure mental health settings. Nursing Times 103(34): 28–29.

College of Occupational Therapists

(COT)

(2006) Recovering Ordinary Lives: The Strategy for Occupational Therapy in Mental Health Services 2007–2017, London: College of Occupational Therapists.

Department of

Health

(2012) Low Secure Services Good Practice Commissioning Guide, Consultation Draft, London: Department of Health. Available at: www.dh.gov.uk/publications.

Dickens

Weleminsky

Onifade

(2012) Recovery star: Validating user recovery. The Psychiatrist 36(2): 45–50.

Douglas

Hart

Webster

(2013) HCR-20 V3: Assessing Risk for Violence – User Guide, Burnaby, Canada: Mental Health, Law and Policy Institute, Simon Fraser University.

Durcan

Hoare

Cummings

(2011) Pathways to Unlocking Secure Mental Health Care, London: Centre for Mental Health.

Farnworth

Nikitin

Fossey

(2004) Being in a secure forensic psychiatric unit: Every day is the same, killing time or making the most of it. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 67(10): 430–438.

Fisher

Griswold

(2015) Evaluation of Social Interaction, 3rd ed., Revised. Fort Collins, CO: Three Star Press.

Fisher

Jones

(2014) Assessment of Motor and Process Skills, 8th ed. Fort Collins, CO: Three Star Press.

10.

Forsyth K, Salamy M, Simon S, et al. (1998) The Assessment of Communication and Interaction Skills (ACIS) Version 4. Chicago: University of Illinois.

11.

Keilhofner

(2002) A Model of Human Occupation: Theory and Application, Baltimore, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

12.

Kopelowicz

Liberman

Zarate

(2006) Recent advances in social skills training for schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin 32(Suppl 1): S12–S23.

13.

NICE (2014) Psychosis and Schizophrenia in Adults: Prevention and Management. London: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Available at: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg178 (accessed 29 December 2015).

14.

O’Connell

Farnworth

(2007) Occupational therapy in forensic psychiatry: A review of the literature and a call for a united and international response. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 70(5): 184–191.

15.

Parkinson

Forsyth

Keilhofner

(2006) A User’s Manual for the Model of Human Occupation Screening Tool (MOHOST), Chicago: University of Illinois.

16.

Royal College of Psychiatrists

(RCP)

(2012) Quality Network for Forensic Mental Health Services. CCQI Standards for Low Secure Services, London: Royal College of Psychiatrists.

17.

SCMH (2006) London’s Prison Mental Health Services: A Review; Policy Paper 5, London: Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health.

18.

SCMH (2007) Getting the Basics Right: Developing a Primary Care Mental Health Service in Prisons: Policy Paper 7, London: Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health.

19.

Stewart

Craik

(2007) Occupation, mental illness and medium security: Exploring time-use in forensic regional secure units. British Journal of Occupational Therapy 70(10): 416–425.