Severe Disturbance

Working With Violent, Disturbed and Personality Disordered People

It is well documented that an inevitable, and in certain respects essential, part of the experience of working with high levels of disturbance is the degree of emotional reaction that is evoked in the practitioner and the setting. Formal Inquiries into fatalities and reviews of system or service failure have highlighted both the gross and subtle ways in which this can impair the capacity to observe, analyse and act appropriately. The crucial importance of reflective practice is also emphasised.

NSCAP's approach to working with severe disturbance is that it is possible to manage and learn from disturbing emotional reactions in a way which informs and supports safe, effective practice and service delivery.  Our professional development programme combines a theoretical framework for understanding disturbance integrated with research and clinical experience.  We are also able to offer access to ongoing consultation for individuals, co-workers and/or teams drawing on the internationally recognised expertise of the Portman Clinic.

Continuing professional development for people working with violent, sexually threatening and disturbed individuals has been consistently identified as a training need and a gap in provision for both adult and child and adolescent services in health, social care and forensic settings. The workforce in non-specialist settings can feel particularly ill-equipped to respond to individuals with complex needs arising from severe impairments in personality development.

For further information about the programme download the flyer on this page or go to Disturbing Personalities.