A qualitative study of contemporary secure mental health services: women service users' views in England

Tammi Walker; Jenny Shaw; Dawn Edge; Jane Senior; Matthew Sutton; Rachel Meacock; Hannah Wilson; Louisa McNair; Heather Mitchell; Kerry Gutridge; Kathryn M Abel

Journal article

A qualitative study of contemporary secure mental health services: women service users' views in England

Tammi Walker, Jenny Shaw, Dawn Edge, Jane Senior, Matthew Sutton, Rachel Meacock, Hannah Wilson, Louisa McNair, Heather Mitchell, Kerry Gutridge, Kathryn M Abel

Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology | Taylor & Francis (Routledge) | Published : 2019

DOI: 10.1080/14789949.2019.1646305

Abstract

Women’s Enhanced Medium Secure Services (WEMSS) was a concept borne out of findings that an inappropriate number of women were being held in high secure services, despite not fulfilling high secure criterion. A qualitative study of women service users’ views of living in WEMSS and comparator medium secure services (MSS) in the UK is presented. Sixteen service users participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis identified four main themes: experiences of current placement versus previous placements, relationships with staff, challenges of living with other women and having a voice – being involved in care and treatment. The accounts reported suggest that women in WEMSS and sta..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Matt Sutton Author Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Department of Health: 'A clinical, economic and operational evaluation of the pilot Women's Enhanced Medium Secure Services (WEMSS),' funded by the Department of Health's National Oversight Group (NOG). The views expressed in this paper represent those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the funders.