people we support have ever returned to prison for a repeat of their index offence
58%
of the people we support with a high and medium forensic risk saw a reduced risk rating in 2024
We’ll help you rehabilitate
We’ll believe in you when others don’t. Our expertise in supporting people with risky behaviours and histories is second to none.
Through our forensic support, Dimensions supports people with very diverse histories to recover – from those considered at risk of offending, to past sexual offenders like Peter (not his real name or photo.) Supporting each individual to lead a fulfilling, safe life in the community.
Peter has a mild learning disability and was detained following an index offence of rape and sexual assault against a child.
The victim was his brother and the offence took place over a number of years.
There were also allegations of sexually abusive behaviour towards other relatives.
How can people rehabilitate?
The concept of rehabilitation has been established for people with long-term mental health issues for a number of years. The key themes are:
1. Agency – gaining a sense of control over one’s life and one’s illness. Finding personal meaning – an identity which incorporates disability, but retains a positive sense of self.
2. Opportunity – building a life beyond disability. Using non-mental health agencies, informal supports and natural social networks to achieve integration and social inclusion.
3. Hope – believing that one can still pursue one’s own hopes and dreams, even with the continuing presence of disability. Not settling for the reduced expectations of others.
Precursors to offending
Through research and experience we understand the life conditions that make offending more likely in people with learning disabilities. Some of these include:
Lack of positive relationships with others, particularly including family.
Missed education, unemployment, social isolation and boredom.
Reduced social and emotional comprehension.
Difficulties with structure, power struggles and discrimination.
Unrealistic expectations.
A lack of opportunity to recognise and address trauma paired with trust and learning issues.
Combined, these factors are strong risk indicators.
In particular, most people with learning disabilities who offend have had few positive relational experiences with others, including family. And developing this is one of the best ways to motivate people to live fulfilling and safe lives.
Community-based support providers have the responsibility of identifying, discussing and carefully managing these risk factors alongside the person and usually multiple other agencies in order to prevent relapse.
However, this process is often difficult for people, at least to start with, as it is a daunting prospect for someone who has struggled and who fears failure to be socially included and to learn to trust others.
Finding reasons to care
We teach people the skills that they need to make informed choices about their life within their community, and support them to find ‘reasons to care’.
Most precursors to offending can be addressed through professional support. In particular, we can teach the skills needed to live safely, focusing on inclusion, relational development, empathy, social rules and expectations, listening skills and self-discipline.
By focusing on relationships, the people we support develop the skills they need to build successful relationships outside of paid support. When people develop a new and positive identity for themselves, they become a valued member of their community.
Managing risks
Risk is inherent in these relationships. Risk management initially comes from the support team that is around the person, but responsibility for managing risk can transfer to the individual as he or she acquires the skills and tools to manage these themselves.
Once someone understands their triggers, has a real reason to care, and has the tools to manage their own behaviour, we start planning reductions in support needs.
Their Outcomes and Development Plan follows the risk management plan. It identifies skills that the person needs to develop, and how they’ll be supported to do so, for their risk to reduce.
People will understand the difference between delinquency and criminality, and how this can impact on community inclusion.
Peter has developed good working relationships with the support team, reducing the social anxiety which triggered his offending behaviour. He now recognises the need for structure and routine in managing his risks and making better decisions.
This has also helped him be part of his community – he’s been made captain of a football team! – which was previously prohibited due to his anxiety and impulsive behaviours.
He is being encouraged to ask questions about appropriate boundaries. He now has unsupported time in his local area once a week. And he uses public transport independently to visit his mother every other Sunday.
Peter was initially supported at all times on a one-to-one basis. The level of support he receives has reduced over time to reflect his progress.
You can count on our clinical team
Behaviours of distress
If you are distressed or behaving in a risky way, this can put your support at risk, and we’re determined to avoid your support breaking down.
At those times your regular support team might need to think about some new strategies to support you well. That’s where our clinical team comes in.
The clinical team has expert knowledge in positive behaviour support and includes several Board Certified Behaviour Analysts (BCBAs) – the highest qualification in the field.
By involving this team early we can identify and respond effectively to any issues at an early stage.
All of the team’s work is centred on your individual needs, and much of the time we’re also working in close multi-agency partnerships to get the best possible outcomes for you.
The team is determined to share what we’ve learned along the way. Indeed, several of the people we support now choose to tell their complex histories in public to help more people believe in their own futures.
Forensic support
Some risky behaviours can lead to contact with the criminal justice system.
If this is you, and you have a mild to moderate learning disability and/or autism, we’ll support you to learn the skills to manage your own risks, enabling you to live safely and independently.
It won’t happen overnight. Typically we aim to be able to fade out of your life over about a seven-year period.
The forensic team has specialist knowledge, experience and input in managing these sorts of risks.
We’ll support you to create meaningful relationships and a life for yourself in the community which is better than life in prison or hospital. This gives you a reason to care about your life and a reason to change your behaviour.
Relationships rely on a particular set of skills which we’ll support you to develop over time: Empathy, Compassion, Conscience and Guilt.
Clinical documentation that provide the framework for your support includes the Personal Agreement, Risk-Trigger-Response Plan, Disengaging From Support Protocol and the Exit Plan.
It works. No-one we support has ever been recalled to prison for a repeat of their index offence. Many now live successful, unsupported lives.
My hours continue to reduce [from 112 to 13 at time of writing] which leads to my goal of no support. I can see that in my future now
