The Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) Pathway is a set of connected treatment and support services across the health and justice system, jointly commissioned and delivered in partnership by NHS England and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.
All services are psychologically informed. Using evidenced based relational and environmental approaches, services aim to work with a specific group of people on probation to reduce risks associated with serious reoffending and improve wellbeing. Staff are also offered specialist training and support.
Who is the OPD Pathway for?
The OPD pathway is targeted at high risk people (and MAPPA eligible women) in the justice system who have complex, persistent and pervasive psychological problems (usually referred to as ‘personality difficulties’, or as ‘meeting the threshold for a diagnosis of personality disorder’), linked to their offending behaviour. These complex psychological difficulties are usually associated with a personal history of trauma. Helpful psychological theory and practice can inform the best ways to support a person through their sentence and meet their intervention and management needs.
OPD Services
Within MPFT, OPD services are part of the Health and Justice Services. MPFT works in partnership with the Probation Service to deliver a range of OPD services across parts of the West and East Midlands.
There are four types of service:
- Core OPD services (West Mercia; South Staffordshire; Derbyshire and Leicestershire)
- Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Services (IIRMS) (Derbyshire and Leicestershire)
- Psychologically Informed Planned Environments (PIPE) Approved Premises (Kirk Lodge in Leicester and Crowley House in Birmingham)
- Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) (HMP Fosse Way and HMP Five Wells)
Core OPD Services
These services are co-delivered by teams of Applied Psychologists and Specialist Probation Practitioners who work closely with local Probation Practitioners to think about how best to support people on probation and people in prison. This is done through a consultation model, where a psychological formulation (a shared understanding of a person’s problems) is at the heart of the work. This supports the collaborative development of recommendations for treatment interventions and risk management. The OPD teams also deliver training for Probation Service staff in relation to the needs of the target population and are involved in initiatives to support staff health and well-being. Time limited joint working with a person on probation and their sentence manager is offered. Core OPD teams also work into their local approved premises (AP’s). This may include but not limited to; reflective practice for staff and psychoeducation groups for residents residing at the AP.
Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Services
The Intensive Intervention and Risk Management Services (IIRMS) are delivered by a small partnership team of MPFT and Probation Service staff. The teams work with individuals leaving prison to support successful transitions to community living. People due to move back into the community are offered 6 months in-reach prior to release and up to 18 months support in the community. The services provide a range of support depending on service users’ needs. This can include psychological support to improve mental health and psychological well-being; social and living skills to help improve the quality of life and substance misuses work, all to reduce risk of recidivism.
Psychologically Informed Planned Environments in Approved Premises
MPFT is currently supporting the delivery of two Psychologically Informed Planned Environments. Crowley House Approved Premises (AP) supports women on licence upon release from custody. Kirk Lodge Approved Premises in Leicester supports men on licence upon release from custody.
PIPEs are specifically designed environments, where staff members have additional training to help them develop an increased psychosocial understanding of their work with a particular focus on the environment in which they operate, actively recognising the importance and quality of relationships and interactions. The approach supports staff to create an enhanced, safe, and supportive environment. PIPE’s aim to maximise learning opportunities within 'ordinary' living experiences and to approach these in a psychologically informed way, paying attention to interpersonal difficulties, for example, issues that might be linked to personality difficulties.
PIPEs are delivered by a psychologist, supported by an assistant psychologist, working alongside probation staff working in the AP’s. Key elements of the model include supporting 'Enabling Environment' accreditation; provision of staff training and development; coordination and provision of structured sessions for residents, including socially creative sessions, key worker sessions; and implementation of high-quality clinical supervision.
Offender Management in Custody
We have one OMiC Psychologist supporting a psychologically informed approach to the work of Probation staff (Prison Offender Managers) delivering Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) at HMP Five Wells and HMP Fosse Way. This work involves supporting the identification and prioritisation of eligible people for OPD pathway services, the facilitation of individual and group staff consultation and formulation meetings, and workforce development through the delivery of reflective practice and specialist training.
Useful Contacts
Dr Melanie Davies
Strategic Lead for OPD
Melanie.