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Can anyone explain assessments please

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Distressed and pregnant

Member since
November 2020

993 posts

Posted Thu November 17, 2022 5:06pmReport post

This may seem silly but I can't shake it so I thought I'd ask for opinions on here. My person has an arms assessment next week. I've read up on it and the oasys and risk matrix assessments before but I can't help but think that the low risks for them is exactly how life was before the knock, while he was offending. Am I missing something? They look at relationships both intimate and the others that form his support network, his hobbies, employment etc. It concerns me that without doing an independent assessment I won't know the true risk level and we could end up in this situation again once he's no longer monitored. Does anyone have a better understanding of this please? xxx

Em_bean

Member since
September 2022

38 posts

Posted Thu November 17, 2022 7:44pmReport post

It's all to basically assess their likely hood of recidivism.



they're all different types of assessment but go on lots of things like mitigating and aggravating factors used by forensic psychology.



There is also the ogrs scale that can be used this is a used for most crimes

They will probably use the general reoffending form of OASYS

Em_bean

Member since
September 2022

38 posts

Posted Thu November 17, 2022 7:44pmReport post

Post deleted by user


Edited Thu November 17, 2022 7:44pm

Distressed and pregnant

Member since
November 2020

993 posts

Posted Thu November 17, 2022 8:20pmReport post

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Sorry for the rambling in my original post. I was meaning that the risk factors they look at weren't there prior to this; things such as lack of an intimate relationship and his friendship group or support network was actually more than it is now. The things they class as positive were there before his arrest. I'm struggling to see how he could have scored lower on their risk assessments while he was actually offending. Does that make sense? xx

GZ

Member since
December 2021

164 posts

Posted Thu November 17, 2022 8:36pmReport post

on my OH ARMs assessments and visor assessments it states that all of these factors were in place while he was offending-but the difference is that now everyone is aware of the offending and supports him.

If his support network aren't aware of his offending, from what his visor has said, they arent a protective factor.

they are looking at the risk of re-offending, re-offending in any way. But a specific risk, if you're worried about him and your daughter, you need a forensic risk assessment.

Distressed and pregnant

Member since
November 2020

993 posts

Posted Thu November 17, 2022 8:50pmReport post

Thanks for your reply. Everyone in his support network know about his offending. I'm not worried about him with our daughter at all, I supervise contact and that will be the case until we can afford an independent assessment or she has been told and understands. My concerns are that I couldn't cope with going through this again and I'm looking to rebuild our relationship. I may have to accept that for my peace of mind I need an independent one done before I make any sort of decision xxx

GZ

Member since
December 2021

164 posts

Posted Thu November 17, 2022 8:57pmReport post

Yeah it's so hard, after the trust has been broken we almost have to trust they won't do it again.
I have an app called accountable to you and a porn blocker on his phone, for my piece of mind. Although this has helped lower his risk for visor. In time I'll take them off, but at the present time it helps me to know that he isn't offending or watching porn.
You have to do whatever is best for you to get that trust/faith back.
All these positive factors were in place and he still offended-for me my oh has done therapy and so much work looking into why. Now we all know about his offending and what was happening we are all aware of his triggers so can see if something is escalating. He is aware of his triggers and when he needs help.
so actually it's really different now

Pregnant and Overwhelmed

Member since
September 2022

43 posts

Posted Fri November 18, 2022 3:36amReport post

I am also looking into an independent risk assessment as I too have a young child who wouldn't be able to voice concerns.

I'm interested how they 'asess'. What do they ask the offender etc to draw their conclusions. Partner has no friendship group for example would that count against him? Similarly he's an avid gamer which I imagine would also look negative.

GZ

Member since
December 2021

164 posts

Posted Fri November 18, 2022 7:13amReport post

The arms assessment is done over a period of time, visor and po gather information all the time from their conversations. But it recognises that risk is fluid and ever changing, so even if this arms assessment is written down, if something concerns them from another conversation their risk can change.
it doesn't matter about the size of their network it's the supportive part, mine oh does state he doesn't have a wide circle of friends-but all of our families know and we spend our time with them. It mentions that he has hobbies and he engages with them.

a lot of phone/internet use increases their level of risk as this is an internet offence, so even if it's innocent stuff they still have constant use of the internet so still have the means to offend again.



I completely understand wanting an independent risk assessment to put your minds at ease. If it's just for your personal use go for it, they are very expensive, start at around £3k.

If you have ss involved, you will need to involve them in the decision of who you use and what questions you ask. You send a letter of instruction detailing what you need answers to. Also if SS are involved they will want a capacity assessment of yourself at the same time, which adds to the cost.
I only say this because if SS are involved and you do a risk assessment without involving them, if they don't think it answered the right questions, they aren't happy with the outcome, or don't like the qualifications of the assesor they will disregard it-so it will give you peice of mind but might not help your situation.
I know someone who did a risk assessment and capacity assessment while their case to ss was closed, then when it was reopened they did take it on board.

Distressed and pregnant

Member since
November 2020

993 posts

Posted Fri November 18, 2022 8:36amReport post

Thanks GZ. Our case is closed and I've previously mentioned to them that I'd be looking to do one in the future. I gave them the names of ones I've looked at and told them the questions I'd be looking to ask. They were happy with these and said that it covered everything they'd want to know. The sw said that I don't need a capability to protect assessment because theirs was sufficient. We are years away from having to go back to them so I may save enough to get both done to be safe. Also got to rant a bit, didn't want to create a separate thread but his PO asked him yesterday if he's sure our daughter is his because I didn't put him on her birth certificate. What the actual. I was advised not to as he would have automatic pr. Also, we hadn't seen each other for six months and I gave birth the week he was sentenced. We're not married so he would have had to come with me and we weren't on that level at all at that point. We were also in the middle of the pandemic so I think me rocking up with three other adults and a baby at the registry office would be frowned upon and I couldn't supervise at that point so his parents would have to be there. I'm absolutely fuming, like they think our lives are some sort of game they can play. He said he couldn't understand why I'd chosen not to put him on there unless I thought there was a chance she isn't his. Obviously he hasn't seen any pictures of her cuz she's daddy's double. So cross!