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Service Responses to Men with Intellectual Disabilities who have Unacceptable or Abusive Sexual Behaviours: The Case Against Inaction
Author(s) -
Brown Hilary,
Thompson David
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3148.1997.tb00016.x
Subject(s) - psychology , intellectual disability , service (business) , sexual abuse , developmental psychology , multiple disabilities , clinical psychology , psychiatry , medicine , business , medical emergency , injury prevention , poison control , marketing
This paper documents service responses to a small group of men with intellectual disabilities whose sexual behaviour was considered to be unacceptable or abusive. The data were gathered through a small‐scale action research project using case studies to explore current practice and staff attitudes. Service responses were hindered by unclear definitions of abusive sexual behaviour and inconsistent perceptions of risk and they were characterised by poor coordination, lack of specific care‐planning, failure to agree to appropriate additional supervisory measures and lack of clarity within and between agencies. The purchaser/provider split did not function to enhance accountability or facilitate monitoring of interventions but seemed in some cases to exacerbate misunderstanding and ‘buck‐passing’. Complex ethical and advocacy issues remained unaddressed in these men's lives as did the necessity of protecting vulnerable people who might be potential victims of their behaviour.