Ms Lauren Ducat1,2, Dr Kiara Bird1
1Forensicare, Clifton Hill, Australia, 2Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia
Biography:
Dr Lauren Ducat has expertise in forensic mental health assessment, risk assessment and intervention with individuals presenting with problem behaviours (e.g., stalking, firesetting, violence and sexual offending). She has expertise in the assessment and treatment of deliberate firesetting and has published in this area. She maintains an active research interest, regularly training practitioners on the assessment of firesetters.
Dr Kiara Bird, Principal Psychologist (Forensicare), has worked in various settings throughout her career, delivering clinical and forensic interventions to consumers across the life course. Her interests include working with personality disorder, complex trauma and resilience, and systemic workforce development.
Abstract:
The Problem Behaviour Program (PBP), is a Community Forensic Mental Health Service in Victoria, Australia, focused on the assessment and prevention of harm associated with problem behaviours (such as stalking, threatening, violence, family violence, firesetting, harmful sexual behaviours and abnormal complaining). Individuals referred to the PBP do not need to meet diagnostic criteria nor have criminal justice involvement to engage with the service. This paper will provide an overview of the problem behaviour model and outline the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the consumers who engage with the service, before describing their journey from assessment, to treatment, and eventually, to leading a meaningful life without harming others. Throughout the paper, the importance of multi-agency collaboration to improve clinical outcomes for consumers and address offence-specific needs is highlighted.
Using a series of case studies, the paper will illustrate the problem behaviour model approach to flexibly meeting consumer need and reducing their risk of engaging in further problem behaviours. The cases will highlight how current best practice in offence-specific intervention is amalgamated with a formulation-driven approach to understanding, assessing and treating individuals who engage in problem behaviours. The paper then offers reflections on consumer experience and the success of such interventions.
The paper concludes with suggestions for future service enhancements that will focus on earlier intervention and greater accessibility, and collaboration for and with services and consumers in both regional and metropolitan regions in Victoria.