ABSTRACT
There is a lack of literature on fathers’ experiences in forensic mental health services. The Care Programme Approach and other treatment frameworks used in forensic mental health settings place importance on parental status but often do not translate this into practice, particularly if fathers have no contact with children. In this chapter, we first describe the experiences of fathers in analogous settings like prisons and inpatient mental health sites, before focusing on forensic services. We then summarise the extant literature on fatherhood in secure psychiatric settings, with a particular focus on risk management and the Good Lives Model of offender rehabilitation. Following this, we turn to the experiences of the children of fathers detained in secure care and healthcare staff perspectives. Finally, we indicate directions for future research and offer recommendations for clinical practice.
