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Assessment 

In this section we will discuss the assessment interview and some useful approaches. We will also introduce structures for conducting the assessment including areas to cover in the assessment interview, risk factors that are based upon empirical evidence and re-visiting the the Scenario Building approach to Analysis. 
 

You may at this stage wish to revisit the Identification of Risk Factors Page in Module 1 before moving on to the specific risk factors for child sexual abuse 

Actuarial Risk Assessment 

The hallmark of actuarial approaches to risk assessment is that, based upon the available information, the assessor makes an ultimate decision informed by fixed and explicit rules. The tools used to reach the decisoin tend to be based on very specific data that haas been selected because they have been demonstrated to be empirically associated with sexual violence and coded in a pre-determined manner. 
There are at least two types of actuarial decision making : 
The Actuarial Use of Psychological Tests: Psychological tests are structured samples of behaviour designed to measure a personal dispoition, a attempt to quantify an individuals standin on some trait dimension e.g. sexual deviation, impulsivity are associated with sexual violence risk. On the basis of research, cut off scores can be identified that maximise some aspect of predictive accuracy. 
Strengths 
Weaknesses 
Transparencey 
Consistency and Utility of test-based decisions supported by the empirical data 
The use of tests requires considerable discretion: Practioners 
which tests are appropriate in a given case. 
Judgment is required in scoring and interpretation. 
Reliance on a single testis insufficient for use in developing intervention strategies 
Focuses professional efforts on prediction rather than prevention 
Actuarial Risk Instruments (also known as actuarial tests, tools, or aids): Actuarial Risk Assessment instruments are designed to measure nothing other than predicting the future. Typically they are high fidelity, optimised to predict a specific outcome in a specific population over a specific period of time. The items in the scale are either rationally (on the basis of theory and experience) or empirically (on the basis of their association with the outcome in past research). The items are weighted and combined according to some algorith to yield a decision. In sexual violence risk assessment, the decision made by actuarial instruments is an estimate of the likelihood of recidivism over a period of time. 
 
Strengths 
Weaknesses 
Transparencey 
Consistency and Utility of test-based decisions supported by the empirical data 
The use of tests requires considerable discretion: Practioners 
which tests are appropriate in a given case. 
Judgment is required in scoring and interpretation. 
Reliance on a single testis insufficient for use in developing intervention strategies. 
Focuses professional efforts on prediction rather than prevention. 
Estimate the absolute likelihood or probability of recidivism and therefore inflexible. 
It's easy to accord too much weight to information concerning the estimation of likelihood provided by actuarial tests but the estimates are often based upon relatively small samples. 
These problems notwithstanding, such tools can be of some assistance in initial decision making or as a starting point in an assessment. They can also open up useful lines of inquiry or assist in case prioritisation and resource allocation. 

Introducing the RISK MATRIX 2000 SVC (Thornton 2007) 

Risk Matrix 2000, often referred to as RM2000 is an actuarial instrument and is commoly used by Police Dangerous Offender Management teams as a risk assessment for sexual and violence recidivism. It is based entirely upon static risk factors and is quick and easy to administer with impressive validation in terms of predictive accuracy. 
For social workers it is helpful in screening known abusers i.e. those that have a criminal record for sexual and violent crimes. it is therefore a useful measure of potential dangerousness. It lacks the sensitivity to predict who is most likely to be victimised and under what circumstances re-offending is likely to occur. It cannot be used in respect of potential abusers with no criminal history nor is it validated for women or juveniles. 

Download  The RM 2000 SVC  HERE 

Download RM 2000 SVC Scoring Forms (Word Format) HERE 

Whether or not a tool such as the RM 2000SVC is selected and whether or not a Structured Professional Judgement Approach (See Module 1) is chosen, the assessor needs to prepare thoroughly and to be clear what it is that they intend to assess. Information may be gathered from case files and notes as well as other professionals, friends and family as well as the self report of the person to be assessed. 

SEXUAL VIOLENCE HISTORY 
Chronology of sexually abusive or violent behaviour 
Victim Characteristics: age, gender, ethnicity, physical characteristics, developmental level, child's / children's behaviour and personlaity and social history /vulnerability (What was the value that the child(ren) represented to the person, how easily were previous children controlled, moved, isolated; what made the child(ren) visible to the perpetrator and what factors made the child accessible to the perpetrator e.g. absence of an effective guardian) 
Modus Operandi e.g. what opportunites were created or sought in order to abuse (overcoming external inhibitions), how was the victim accessed and controlled (Overcoming the resistance of the victim) 
Frequencey of abusive behaviour over time 
Severity of abusive behaviour over time 
Association with other sexual offenders / history of co-offending 
CASE RECORDS 
 
POLICE DISCLOSURES 
 
VICTIM STATEMENT 
 
PARTNER, FAMILY FRIENDS 
 
SELF REPORT (e.g. INTERVIEW AND QUESTIONNAIRES) 
PSYCHOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING  
Self esteem and self image 
Evidence of withdrawal into fantasy and rumination 
(Under) Assertiveness 
Expressions remorse, regret, guilt, shame or anxiety with regard to their thoughts, feelings, urges or behaviour? 
Expressions or evidence of attitudes that support or condone sexual violence and abuse? 
Lack of self awareness or insight into how their behaviour impacts on others orr may be interpreted by others 
MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS 
 
PROFESSIONAL OBSERVATIONS 
 
PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS AND SCALES 
 
SELF REPORT  
 
PARTNER, FAMILY AND FRIENDS. 
MENTAL HEALTH 
Affective Disorder (See module 2) 
Problems with substance misuse 
Violent or suicidal ideation 
Sexual Deviance 
Psychotic Illness i.e. current distrubance of thought and perception (See Module 2) 
History of Mental Disorder (See Module 2) 
MENTAL HEALTH RECORDS 
 
PSYCHIATRIC ASSESSMENT 
 
SELF REPORT 
 
PARTNER FAMILY AND FRIENDS 
SOCIAL FUNCTIONING 
Problems with non intimate relationships 
Problems with intimate relationships 
Withdrawal and Isolation 
Employment problems 
Non-sexual criminality 
Non-sexual violence 
POLICE DISCLOSURES 
 
SELF REPORT 
 
PARTNER, FAMILY AND FRIENDS, EMPLOYERS  
 
NOMS 
 
COMPLIANCE 
Lack of engagement with agencey or safety plan 
Evidence of "disguised compliance" 
Breech of injuctions such as non-molestation orders, license / bail conditions or other legal orders restricitng movement activity or contact 
treatment problems 
PROFESSIONAL OBSERVATIONS 
 
MEDICAL AND SOCIAL CARE RECORDS 
 
PROBATION RECORDE 
 
POLICE DISCLOSURES 
CASE SPECIFIC ISSUES 
 
 

Assessment Interview 

CHILDHOOD 
Early life experiences, key events 
Family structure  
Memories (good and bad) 
Residences 
Adverse life experiences 
Behaviour - e.g. general behaviour, evidence of delinquency, anti-social behaviour, challenging behaviour, substance use etc 
General health and development through childhood and adolescence 
Experience of parenting 
EDUCATION 
Experiences of primary, secondaru and teriary education 
Challenges faced and achievements. 
Favourite subjects / least favourite subjects 
Experience of bullying (as victim and / or perptrator) 
Attitudes to education 
Parents' attitudes to education 
Invovelemt in extra curricular activities, clubs, teams etc. 
EMPLOYMENT 
Full employment history including informal and unpaid work (look for presence or absence of structured daytime activity) 
Reason for leaving jobs (and duration of employment) e.g. dismissal, dissatisfaction, redundancy etc. 
CRIMINAL HISTORY 
Previous Convictions, cautions, warnings and reprimands 
Involvement with law enforcement agencies that did not result in a, caution, conviction reprimand or warning e.g. follwoing com,plaints by another. 
MARAC, MERLIN reports 
Failure to comply with supervision requirements including civil injunctions or measures intended to safeguard a child or vulnerable person 
Any notification requiremens, restrictions on movelment or activity, bail or license conditions 
NON-INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS HISTORY 
Attachment experiences 
Social networks and friendship groups through chidhood, adolescence and adulthood 
Relationships with authority figuers e.g. teachers, managers /employers, law enforcement and stautory agencies 
Close or "Best" Friends 
Relationships with neighbours 
Reason for breakdown in any relationships / friendships 
Anti social behavior 
Engagement with community e.g. clubs, societies, facilities, services and institutions 
INTIMATE RELATIONSHIPS HISTORY 
Sexual development history 
Earliest sexual experiences with another person 
Subsequent relationship history_ how the relationships started, duration, how they ended 
Positive and negative characteristics of the relationship 
History of violent, abusive, coercive or controlling relationships (as victim and / or perpetrator) 
History of volatile relationship 
Infidelity 
MOOD 
Current mood and mental health state 
History of mood fluctuations or affective disordere 
Violent or suicidal ideation 
Hopes and plans for the future (optimistic or pesimistic) 
ATTITUDES 
Evidene of attitudes, beliefs, values, and cognitions that support or condone sexual violence 
Deviant sexual interests 
Attitudes, such as a male prerogative or misogyny 
Cognitive distortions 
Sexual entitlement beliefs, 
Tolerance of offending. 
Attitudes that support or condone 
Extreme minimisation or denial of sexual violence 
Lack of empathy and remorse. 
STRESS AND COPING 
Exposure to severe, frequent, or varied stresses 
deficits in coping skills, 
Maladaptive coping mechanisms, 
Vulnerability 
Neuroticism or negative affectivity 
Adjustment problems 
Emotional self-regulation 

Activity: 

Listen to the third and final podcast featurng our panel of forensic pschiatrists and psychologists. In this program they discuss techniques, approaches and potential pitfalls to consider in planning and conducting the assessment interview