Self-Reflective Report
Interviewing Practice for Reflection
The Offender Role
Maxine has just arrived at HMP Bronzefield in Middlesex, she has been placed in one of the three main residential units each of which house around 135 women. Maxine has received a four-year sentence for supplying a controlled drug. Maxine supplied this substance to a man that she was familiar with from her block of flats, but states that this was the first time she had supplied any other person with substances. She has received one previous conviction for possession of a class B substance and a previous conviction for assault (against a nightclub security officer who was removing her from the premises); however, this is her first prison sentence. She admits to using substances and reports that her misuse of drugs and alcohol has been a problem for the past five years since the birth of her daughter. Maxine’s drug issues and associated behaviour may have impacted on her ability to care for her daughter and her personal relationship with the father of the child.
The Interviewer Role
In the interview, will be perform a similar role to that of a CARAT (Counselling Assessment Referral Advice Throughcare) Worker. CARATs are a multi-disciplinary team of professionals that provide help to prisoners who have substance misuse issues. This includes detailed assessment of individuals exploring a range of factors, including their history of drug use, their social relationships and health, etc. Based on this initial screening (using the Comprehensive Substance Misuse Assessment, CSMA) they can formulate individualised care plans and provide both group and individual sessions to meet these needs.
In this session, the interviewer will be acting in this role, but focusing the questions on engaging the offender to start to make links between her known drug misuse issues and her offending behaviour. Must explore her reasons for and (if relevant) motivation to make changes to her drug misuse problems.
How to Write Various Section of the Self-Reflective Report
- The MAIN BODY should provide an in-depth reflection for each of the chosen critical incidents. As noted above, you can use a framework and follow this for the structure of each Critical Incident. MUST use sub-headings here if you choose to (these are included in your word count). You can choose how much weight to afford to each critical incident. You should be choosing Critical Incidents based on their potential for analytical depth to ensure that this is evidenced.
- Ensure that everything is relevant throughout – i.e. this is not an essay, beyond a brief introduction, content should be entirely dedicated to reflecting on the critical incidents, and weight should be afforded to analysis rather than description. Examples of where failures occurred are a paper that is primarily a discussion of (or essay on) reflective practice and not included sufficient (or any) self-reflection on their experiences.
- Academic literature should be drawn on to support the reflection. This should be purposeful and advance your reflection (e.g. achieving conceptual thinking), and not tokenistic. Must prioritise peer-reviewed academic journals over generalised texts for this. Take a critical approach to evidence to demonstrate grasp of material.
- MUST used appropriately formed sentences and paragraphs and that linkage is provided to aid flow throughout. DO NOT USE bullet-points. Proof-read your work to identify and correct errors in grammar, syntax (this is word order and sentence composition) and spelling.
- An INTRODUCTION that opens the main issues to be discussed – for example by briefly introducing reflective practice, critical incidents and the task engaged with. This should be very brief; do not regurgitate the information you’ve been given about the interview exercise. You only need sufficient background for a reader to appreciate the content that follows. Must signpost what you will cover and how the paper will be structured – e.g. state your critical incidents and how you will structure the main body (e.g. which framework(s) you are employing).
