FASD Informed™ Professional Criminal Justice System

‘What is FASD?’ for Police Officers

With up to 75% of children in care or leaving it having been exposed to prenatal alcohol and given the over-representation of individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in the Criminal Justice System as victims, witnesses and subjects, it is critical therefore for all police officers and supporting staff to receive the most up to date relevant neuro-developmental trauma training.

This live online bitesize course provides a valuable insight in not only the importance of recording evidence of alcohol in pregnant women, but also considers the other end of the scales of justice, when sadly children and adults with FASD enter the justice system.

With irreparable brain damage and on average a functioning development age of around half their chronological age...... children & adults are highly suggestible, at high risk of coercion & exploitation, have slow processing speed and where they might understand only the 3rd or 4th word in any one sentence.

Children & adults should be carefully considered as 'extremely vulnerable' and a much greater risk of suicide & self harm where additional support should always be provided.

Stage 1:

Aim: To provide an overview of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder & its co-occurring neurodevelopmental conditions to support NICE Quality Standards for FASD

·       Identify how alcohol is Neuro-developmental Trauma

·       The impact of alcohol on the brain and its vulnerabilities

·       Examine how the alcohol informs the spectrum of need and its co-occurring conditions         including Autism, ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Tourette’s etc

·       Recognise the brain functions, how FASD impacts development & understanding

·       Suggestibility, communication & safeguarding risks

·  Exploitation, grooming and risks of coercion

· Consider the importance of compliance with PACE and the codes of practice

· Support quality of risk assessment & control strategies

.       Recording evidence of alcohol to help support future early intervention & diagnosis

Good practice in neurodevelopmental support informs us that working towards being ‘FASD Responsive’ includes empowering all members of the team who come into contact with children & adults with prenatal exposure to alcohol.

In practical terms, what would the indicators be for a professional when considering how FASD impacts on a child or adults life story?

Although individual indicators vary greatly, this is an illustrative example of what life might be like for someone with an FASD profile:

'I might appear to be very articulate but have problems understanding what you have just told me, as well as keeping track of what I was asked to do to correct my behaviour.'

'I might be very impulsive without thinking of the consequences; and, even if corrected, I may do it again because I have great difficulty learning from experience.'

'I might appear truculent and challenging and act inappropriately for my age.'

'I might be anxious and developing mental health issues because I am being bullied or misunderstood so often.'

'I might have real skills and talents I am unable to demonstrate consistently because my life is so disorganised and stressful.'

'I might drink alcohol, take drugs, and engage in other risky behaviours (including sexual ones) because I have a very hard time controlling my impulses.'

'I might be dreadful at keeping appointments and generally organising my life, including poor money concepts and an inability to either plan or follow through on other’s plans for me.'

'My sleep pattern will have been poor from an early age.'

(Hayes, Moritz and Reid, 2020)

Online live delivery (90 minutes) includes FASD Resources; with progression opportunities to a higher level learning

FASD Informed Education delivered by a strong experienced qualified team, tailoring a bespoke service to support your team in becoming FASD Responsive

To find out more & to book please email us: info@fasdinformed.co.uk

©FASD Informed UK

Recommended follow on course:

FASD Informed™ Professional Criminal Justice System Stage 2 : For Police Officers

·        Monitoring, observing and engaging

· Address physical health and basic needs in FASD

·        Adjustment of language and speed of communication 

·        Consider the physical environment 

·        Support social and emotional functioning

To find out more & to book please email us: info@fasdinformed.co.uk

©FASD Informed UK