138 Chapter 5 Forensic network coaching Participants allocated to the TAU+FNC group were stimulated by researchers and/or clinicians to engage in volunteer coaching to improve the quality of social networks, social support, and social participation in addition to TAU, during 12 months after baseline assessment. The FNC intervention was provided by De Regenboog Groep [The Rainbow Group], an external informal care institute providing volunteer services for people with social or mental challenges who are lonely and/or have a psychiatric and/or an addiction background. De Regenboog Groep provided the selection, training, matching, and supervision of volunteer coaches – forensic network coaches. Before the start of FNC, an intake appointment with the coordinator and patient took place to determine participants’ willingness to meet a coach, patient-specific network goals, and preferences. Participants who were unable or unwilling to participate in the intervention, were given the opportunity to start at a later timepoint, up to 12 months after baseline. Participants and coaches being matched were encouraged to meet with each other for a couple of hours, once every 14 days. However, patient-coach dyads were free to meet, call, and chat to each other more frequently. In general, patients were matched to the same coach until the end of the intervention. However, if for some reason contact between dyads was interrupted prematurely (i.e., before 12-month follow-up), patients had the option to be re-matched. Dyads had an amount of €9,- to their disposal in order to support activities during each meeting. The forensic network coach is a trained volunteer who could be a role model stimulating participants to strengthen their social network, as well as a supportive social network member. The relationship between the patient-coach dyads is informal, meaning that coaches are non-professional volunteers not receiving payments for their services. Coaches received a training program that included (1) a 3-hour practical training about a structured, goal-oriented social network protocol entitled Natuurlijk, een netwerkcoach! [Of course, a network coach!] (Mezzo, 2015), (2) a 9-hour training focused on basic coaching skills for volunteer coaches, and (3) a 2-hour informational training on forensic mental healthcare, providing coaching for forensic outpatients, and to reflect on the expectations, attitudes, and commitment of coaches. Noteworthy, coaches were instructed to focus first on developing a working alliance with the patient. Subsequently, they could use the abovementioned protocol as a tool to strengthen social networks. Coaches were encouraged to attend group supervision meetings or request individual supervision from the coordinator. Evaluation of FNC in the presence of the coordinator took place every 3 to 6 months and upon completion of FNC, after 12 months. Afterwards, patient-coach dyads could decide to stay connected without interference from De Regenboog Groep.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjY0ODMw