The effect of training on the quality of HCR-20 violence risk assessments in forensic secure services

Abstract

Training (full course: one and a half days; introductory course: half a day) on the HCR-20 risk assessment of violence in mentally disordered offenders was held for Kent Forensic Psychiatry Service (KFPS) staff in 2007 and 2008. KFPS inpatient files (n = 68) on 1 April 2008 were reviewed to locate completed HCR-20s. Overall and component parts (historical factors, clinical factors, risk management factors, and risk management plan) were rated for quality. Training significantly increased the quality of HCR-20 assessments. No significant differences in quality were found between those completed by qualified and by trainee staff. Training evaluations indicated that the most useful/helpful aspects of the training were the facilitator's training style and the pace of the day, while the least was training venue. Confidence in completing HCR-20s was also reasonably low, possibly due to perceptions of the time involved.