A carefully taken history can result in a correct medical diagnosis 90% of the time in skilled hands. It requires capturing information from the person’s past history as well as current
functioning and setting. However, where individuals may be moving in and out of systems inconsistently, this can be difficult to undertake as well as there being a lack of trained
personnel for the task. Without consistent and robust systems in place wrong assumptions can be made and the result of partial information can be wrong or no support provided.
This paper describes an example of the challenges in the Criminal Justice System (CJS) in identifying and supporting individuals with a range of developmental disorders and learning
difficulties. It provides an example of how using an innovative computerized accessible assessment system has assisted in screening and undertaking some assessments in order to
make more accurate judgments and conclusions. If we are to truly recognise and support the needs of offenders with developmental
disorders. joined up systems are required from the point of entry into the CJS and that can work across prisons and into rehabilitation. However, technology is merely a tool to assist in
this process and has to be a part of an embedded system. This means that the information gathered has to facilitate discussion and action, and the tools for tracking can aid monitoring and measuring outcomes. Every good car needs a competent driver who knows where they heading.
This requires a change in approach to allow a bio-psychosocial dimensional approach to be taken rather than a categorical approach. This needs barriers between professionals to be lowered in order to work in a trans-disciplinary fashion. CJS is one example, but other sectors such as education and Welfare to Work represent similar challenges for the identification and support of individuals with developmental disorders.
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)