82 Unit I CURRENTTHEORIES& PRACTICE
Roskes et al. (1999) proposed a model of working
with mentally ill offenders that calls for a collabora-
tive working relationship between a community men-
tal health center and a probation office. On release
from incarceration, each offender is assigned to a pa-
role officer and a psychiatrist who work with the of-
fender to avoid re-arrest or parole violation and to ob-
tain needed mental health services. Their results were
anecdotal in nature, but they had success in diverting
many long-term offenders from the criminal justice
system and into mental health services.
INTERDISCIPLINARY TEAM
Regardless of the treatment setting, rehabilitation
program, or population, an interdisciplinary (or
multidisciplinary) teamapproach is most useful in
dealing with the multifaceted problems of clients with
mental illness. Different members of the team have
expertise in specific areas. By collaborating, they can
meet clients’ needs more effectively. Members of the
interdisciplinary team include the psychiatrist, psy-
chologist, psychiatric nurse, psychiatric social worker,
occupational therapist, recreation therapist, and vo-
cational rehabilitation specialist. Their primary roles
are described in Box 4-7. Not all settings have a full-
time member from each discipline on their team; the
programs and services that the team offers determine
its composition in any setting.
Functioning as an effective team member requires
the development and practice of several core skill areas
(White & Brooker, 2001):- Interpersonal skills such as tolerance,
patience, understanding - Humanity such as warmth, acceptance, em-
pathy, genuineness, nonjudgmental attitude - Knowledge base about mental disorders,
symptoms, behavior - Communication skills
- Personal qualities such as consistency,
assertiveness, problem-solving abilities - Teamwork skills such as collaborating, shar-
ing, integrating - Risk assessment/risk management skills
Box 4-7
➤ INTERDISCIPLINARYTEAMPRIMARYROLES
- Psychiatrist:The psychiatrist is a physician certified in psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and
Neurology, which requires a 3-year residency, 2 years of clinical practice, and completion of an examination.
The primary function of the psychiatrist is diagnosis of mental disorders and prescription of medical
treatments. - Psychologist:The clinical psychologist has a doctorate (Ph.D.) in clinical psychology and is prepared to prac-
tice therapy, conduct research, and interpret psychological tests. Psychologists may also participate in the
design of therapy programs for groups of individuals. - Psychiatric nurse:The registered nurse gains experience in working with clients with psychiatric disorders
after graduation from an accredited program of nursing and completion of the licensure examination. The
nurse has a solid foundation in health promotion, illness prevention, and rehabilitation in all areas, allowing
him or her to view the client holistically. The nurse is also an essential team member in evaluating the effec-
tiveness of medical treatment, particularly medications. Registered nurses who obtain a master’s degree in
mental health may be certified as clinical specialists or licensed as advanced practitioners, depending on indi-
vidual state nurse practice acts. Advanced practice nurses are certified to prescribe drugs in many states. - Psychiatric social worker:Most psychiatric social workers are prepared at the master’s level, and they are
licensed in some states. Social workers may practice therapy and often have the primary responsibility for
working with families, community support, and referral. - Occupational therapist:Occupational therapists may have an associate degree (certified occupational therapy
assistant) or a baccalaureate degree (certified occupational therapist). Occupational therapy focuses on the
functional abilities of the client and ways to improve client functioning such as working with arts and crafts
and focusing on psychomotor skills. - Recreation therapist:Many recreation therapists complete a baccalaureate degree, but in some instances
persons with experience fulfill these roles. The recreation therapist helps the client to achieve a balance of
work and play in his or her life and provides activities that promote constructive use of leisure or unstruc-
tured time. - Vocational rehabilitation specialist:Vocational rehabilitation includes determining clients’ interests and abili-
ties and matching them with vocational choices. Clients are also assisted in job-seeking and job-retention
skills, as well as pursuit of further education if that is needed and desired. Vocational rehabilitation specialists
can be prepared at the baccalaureate or master’s level and may have different levels of autonomy and pro-
gram supervision based on their education.