The Firesetting Intervention Programme for Mentally Disordered Offenders (FIP-MO) will be a treatment programme for male and female inpatients who intentionally set fire or who may pose risk of intentional firesetting. The main aim of the programme is to increase each service user’s understanding of the factors associated with their firesetting, and enable them to develop appropriate strategies for managing their firesetting.
FIP-MO is primary cognitive behavioural in orientation and is comprised of 28 weeks of group and individual work. There is also a psychotherapeutic component of the FIO-MP designed to encourage self reflection and healthy emotional and social expression. The FIP-MO programme is grounded theoretically within two theories of offender rehabilitation: the Risk Need Model and the Good Lives Model. Service users who have not fully admitted their firesetting are also eligible for the programme.
“We work with a number of service users who have been involved in arson-related offences. This programme will be key in helping us address some of these issues with service users, and will provide the service with another string to its bow to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of the service users that we have on our wards.”Tammy Wachter, Head of Programmes and Consultant Clinical Psychologist
The firesetting programme will enhance Cygnet Hospital Stevenage’s existing therapy offering, which is offered across the hospital’s four secure wards. The next addition to the therapy suite will be a sex offenders treatment programme, which the service hopes to be able to offer by spring 2016.