My unit is changing to a sex offender unit

[mercuryrising]

Last week I discovered that the depression and ECT unit where I work is being transitioned to a sex offender unit starting this week or next. I do not know how to work with this population, the acuity will rise dramatically, and it appears staff will not be trained to work with these patients. Has anyone worked in this area before? What steps should I take to be able to handle this group?

Any input is greatly appreciated.

[elkpark]

I've worked with lots of offenders in child/adolescent settings and haven't had any difficulties with it. As already noted, most offenders were victims of sexual abuse before they became offenders; they're just farther along that continuum, farther down that path, than the sexual abuse victims we work with all the time and feel v. positive about.

[A&Ox6, MSN, RN]

Cool! I have worked extensively with this population and don't find them all that bad. While I truly believe science has shown there is almost no chance of rehabilitation for people who have their wiring so crossed the things I remember is that:

1. Every day they are locked on your unit is a day they won't be assaulting an innocent victim

2. Coping skills or strategies you can teach them might possibly reduce the chance of them re-offending-try DBT skills?

3. They are usually, not always, the result of a horribly traumatic childhood

The good news is that most of them are so antisocial that they go out of their way to be charming in a totally transparent manipulative way. I personally find them way easier to deal with than the borderline population.

Thank you Jules for your perspective. Just because they are on a unit does not mean that they aren't offending. How many of us really believe that nothing occurs between patients? As this is a psych unit, it is likely that many of these encounters may be considered nonconsensual.

[elkpark]

Thank you Jules for your perspective. Just because they are on a unit does not mean that they aren't offending. How many of us really believe that nothing occurs between patients? As this is a psych unit, it is likely that many of these encounters may be considered nonconsensual.

Well, isn't that a reasonable expectation of the staff? That they are keeping an close eye on clients and keeping them from doing things they shouldn't be doing?

[A&Ox6, MSN, RN]

Well, isn't that a reasonable expectation of the staff? That they are keeping an close eye on clients and keeping them from doing things they shouldn't be doing?

It may be reasonable, but in psych anything can happen. Like anything...

[elkpark]

It may be reasonable, but in psych anything can happen. Like anything...

You make it sound like we're talking about random acts of God. In my experience, the possibility of bad things happening is kept pretty low when staff are doing their jobs competently.

[Jules A, MSN]

You make it sound like we're talking about random acts of God. In my experience, the possibility of bad things happening is kept pretty low when staff are doing their jobs competently.

I agree and on a mixed unit we do institute extra safeguards for known predators.

[A&Ox6, MSN, RN]

You make it sound like we're talking about random acts of God. In my experience, the possibility of bad things happening is kept pretty low when staff are doing their jobs competently.

Very true. I was just trying to inject some humor in a topic that may not be appropriate for joking