This study evaluates the effectiveness of a Compassion Focused Staff Support (CFSS) intervention in improving the social climate of correctional and forensic psychiatric institutions. The intervention is based on Compassion Focused Therapy and designed to support staff in managing stress, enhancing affect regulation, and strengthening compassion toward self and others. Three institutional units are included in the study. One unit is randomly selected to receive the full CFSS intervention, including a half-day introductory workshop and monthly staff support sessions over six months. A second unit serves as a control group and receives no intervention. A third unit receives only the initial workshop without follow-up sessions. The effect of the intervention is evaluated using a pre-test/post-test design. Outcomes include changes in staff-reported and client-reported social climate, assessed with validated questionnaires, as well as institutional data on critical incidents. The study aims to improve working conditions in secure settings and foster more compassionate, effective staff-client interactions.

Inclusion Criteria:

Staff Participants:

• Employed at one of the participating correctional or forensic psychiatric units
• Aged 18 years or older
• Willing to provide informed consent

Client Participants:

• Residing in one of the participating correctional or forensic psychiatric units at the time of data collection.
• Aged 18 years or older.
• Capable of providing informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

Staff Participants:

- None (all eligible staff are invited to participate)

Client Participants:

• Not capable of providing informed consent (e.g., due to acute psychiatric crisis or cognitive impairment).
• Not deemed competent to participate by treatment team.