Intervening in the community

Abstract

The Offender Personality Disorder (OPD) pathway strategy explicitly begins and ends with the community, and this ethos lies at the heart of the pathway approach to management. This chapter therefore focuses on the question of how best to deploy limited resources to greatest effect when facing the challenge of high levels of morbidity and offending, a large geographical area, and a changing staff group. Having reviewed the rather sparse literature on relevant and effective community treatment interventions, the authors consider the relative benefits of stand-alone treatment approaches, partnership working, and indirect support, before describing the mixed model chosen by the London Pathways Partnership. The chapter concludes with a reflection on progress and challenges four years on; unbalanced by politically driven changes midway, the service nevertheless has flourished, although partnership working requires constant attention if staff are to be supported to make a real difference.