Elien Neimeijer

17 Thesis outline Despite the growing body of literature on secure (forensic) treatment which highlights the importance of understanding group climate in the light of effective treatment, there is still a gap between what we know and what we need to know about group climate in secure forensic settings for individuals with MID-BIF (Bressington et al., 2011; Schubert et al., 2012; Tonkin, 2015; Van der Helm, 2011). The relationship between group cli- mate, treatment outcomes, and organisational outcomes is well researched and well doc- umented in forensic and psychiatric services since Moos’ early research in the 1960s. Research into these outcomes for individuals with MID-BIF is largely lacking (Bell, Tonkin, Chester, & Craig, 2017; Moos & Houts, 1967; Tonkin 2015; Willets, Mooney, & Blagden, 2014; Van der Helm, 2011). Providing a reliable and valid assessment of group climate in secure forensic settings for individuals with MID-BIF is recommended given the important impact of group climate on wellbeing and treatment outcomes in secure forensic care worldwide (as demonstrated above). Researchers have developed a num- ber of questionnaires that can be used to measure group climate (see Tonkin, 2015). In this thesis we use the Group Climate Instrument (GCI; Van der Helm, 2011) because of the overlap with the Self Determination Theory (Ryan & Deci, 2017). Also, de Valk and others (2016) pointed out that repression is an important factor to take into account because of the risk secure forensic settings bear (compulsory treatment). Measuring, giving feedback and reflecting on group climate with sociotherapists and organisations may offer important insights of how group climate develops, and how group climate can be improved for the benefit of both clients, sociotherapists and organisations. When time and resources are devoted to the monitoring of group climate in these settings, it is crucial that monitoring is guided by psychometrically sound measurement. Otherwise, it will hinder rather than help attempts to improve secure forensic treatment for individ- uals with MID-BIF. If changes to working practices are made on the basis of inaccurate data, the changes will unlikely have the desired impact on quality of group climate and treatment. This thesis aims to examine group climate in secure forensic care for individuals with MID-BIF from the perspective of the individuals with MID-BIF themselves and the sociotherapists working with them. The quantitative and qualitative date that are used for the chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5 are collected at Trajectum, a secure forensic treatment facility for adults with MID-BIF and externalizing behaviour problems (i.e., aggression or