[[{"fid":"5550","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Health bulletin header","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Health bulletin header"},"link_text":null,"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Health bulletin header","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Health bulletin header"}},"attributes":{"alt":"Health bulletin header","title":"Health bulletin header","class":"media-element file-default","data-delta":"1"}}]]
In this month's edition...
Prison healthcare
On 3rd July Clinks gave oral evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee inquiry into prison healthcare, alongside Sean Cox from User Voice and Stuart Ware of Restore Support Network. We drew on the evidence shared in our written response to the inquiry, gathered through our work in the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, and from our members working with people in prison. Find out more here
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Matt Hancock MP has replaced Jeremy Hunt MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. He was appointed on 9th July 2018. He was previously Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from 8th January 2018 to 9th July 2018. Find out more here
Cancer care for ethnic minorities
brap, an equality charity based in Birmingham, is undertaking a project on behalf of NHS England to better understand the experience of cancer patients from ethnic minority backgrounds in order to help the NHS to improve the way it approaches care in the future. It would like to hear from you if you are a cancer patient from an ethnic minority background or their carer, including in custodial settings. If you work for a community group or organisation that supports people from ethnic minority backgrounds and would like to get involved with this work it would also like to hear from you. Contact Rahela Hussain via email on rahelah@brap.org.uk or Asif Afridi on asifa@brap.org.uk
Healthcare in court custody and escort services
The annual report of Lay Observers of court custody and escort has highlighted inadequate access to healthcare as a serious failing in court custody and escort services. The former Chairman of Lay Observers for England and Wales, Tony Fitzsimons, details failings in the care of people held in custody at courts and transported between police stations, prisons and courts by escort contractors. It expresses continued concern that a system of disconnected contracts and responsibilities for the different elements of services for escort and court custody remains an issue. Find out more here
Evidence-based interventions
NHS England has launched a consultation on evidence-based interventions. Research evidence shows some interventions are not clinically effective or only effective when they are performed in specific circumstances. As medical science advances, some interventions are superseded by those that are less invasive or more effective. At both national and local levels, there is a general consensus that more needs to be done to ensure that the least effective interventions are not routinely performed, or only performed in more clearly defined circumstances. The VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance is holding a webinar [13th September, 10-11am, online, free] to support the voluntary sector's response. Register for the webinar here. You can respond to the consultation here
Mental health and homelessness
Homeless Link is running 'Mental Health and Homelessness' [20th September, London, from £95]. This one day course will help you develop the skills you need to support vulnerable clients with mental health issues. This course is suitable for frontline staff or experienced professionals who want to update their skills. Find out more here
Health and justice annual report
Public Health England (PHE) has published its Health and Justice Annual Review 2017/18. The report details the work of the national health and justice team at PHE in the last financial year. Highlights include signing a new National Partnership Agreement for prison healthcare in England with other statutory bodies; publishing new guidance on conducting health and social care needs assessments for older people in prison; gender-specific standards for improving the health and wellbeing of women in prison; and international collaboration through the World Health Organisation Health in Prisons programme. Read the report here
Mental health review
The Mental Health Network of the NHS Confederation has published a short briefing which looks at the Independent Review of the Mental Health Act team’s work to date. It summarises the interim report published in May and outlines the emerging priority areas, including but not limited to: issues experienced by people transferring from the criminal justice system to hospital because of mental illness; addressing rising numbers of detentions; community treatment orders and issues experienced by people from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. It notes that the review team will continue to engage with stakeholders over the coming months through targeted focus groups, and says to email MHActreview@dh.gsi.gov.uk if you would like to get involved directly. You can download the briefing here
Community transitions
Blenheim has published a report into continuity of care for prisoners who are dependent on drugs, entitled ‘Failure by Design and Disinvestment: the Critical State of Custody-Community Transitions’. The report highlights the high mortality rates of opiate dependent prisoners in the immediate post-release period, coupled with high dropout rates in community treatment services, as symptomatic of critical failures in the system. The report quotes the clear recommendations from the government and Public Health England that relate to post-release provision, and discusses how they can be applied. Find out more here
Spotlight on substance misuse
Revolving Doors Agency has published the seventh in its spotlight series, which highlights best practice by Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) in tackling various issues. The Spotlight on Substance Misuse report brings together examples of good practice with a view to raising awareness about the link between substance misuse, associated health inequalities and crime. It identifies five key themes as essential for good practice in PCCs tackling substance misuse: taking a public health approach; drawing on the expertise of those with lived experience of substance misuse; taking a whole-systems approach; offering women-only provision; and supporting families affected by substance misuse. Find out more here
Tackling alcohol-related anti-social behaviour
Alcohol Concern has created the Blue Light project, a national initiative to develop alternative approaches and care pathways for dependent drinkers. It has published research which finds that many local authorities, police forces and housing providers are struggling to apply anti-social behaviour legislation to people with chronic alcohol problems. The 2014 Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act offers a chance to address some of these challenges through the so-called ‘positive requirements’ in Criminal Behaviour Orders and Civil Injunctions. However, it found that community safety and housing agencies are still struggling to make best use of these. The research explores whether better use could be made of these new powers in order to have a positive and constructive impact on alcohol-related crime and anti-social behaviour. Find out more here
Supporting travellers with dementia
Friends Families and Travellers has published research on dementia and its impact in Gypsy and Traveller communities. Key findings include that: campaigns raising awareness about risk reduction activities to prevent dementia are often not reaching Gypsy and Traveller communities; a significant number of Gypsies and Travellers would not attempt to access support for dementia because they feel that they would not receive culturally appropriate care; and the majority of Gypsies and Travellers share a strong preference for carers from within the Gypsy and Traveller communities. Find out more here (PDF)
Mental health practitioners
Citizens Advice has published a research report on how mental health practitioners are responding to people with practical support needs. It finds mental health practitioners are spending more time on non-health related issues, such as debt and housing, and this is having a negative impact on patients, staff and mental health services. Eight in 10 practitioners surveyed said they had less time to deliver clinical care after being asked to assist with tasks like budgeting and contacting public service bodies. 86% of practitioners say practical problems mean people struggle to recover following treatment. Find out more here
Crime and addiction
The Forward Trust has teamed up with Crowdfunder to support early stage enterprises and charities that are helping to break the cycle of crime and addiction with £100,000 potential funding on offer. Projects creating employment opportunities for people with convictions or people in recovery from addiction can receive up to £5,000 extra funding. Find out more here
Emotional wellbeing and mental health
Grants are available from Salford CVS to support emotional wellbeing and mental health in Salford. Grants are available to not-for-profit registered charities, community, voluntary and social enterprise organisations in Salford for projects that will improve and sustain the mental health of local people and provide early intervention and prevention of escalating mental health problems. Organisations can apply for small grants of up to £10,000 for 12-month projects or large grants of up to £50,000 per year for up to 36 months. Projects need to support targets set out in NHS England’s Five Year Forward View for Mental Health, including increasing life chances and diversion from criminal justice. Find out more here
HIV prevention
Public Health England (PHE) has launched its HIV Prevention Innovation Fund 2018-19. The Fund aims to maximise the potential in the voluntary sector to develop effective ways to address HIV prevention in communities at increased risk of the infection. This year proposals will be accepted from voluntary sector organisations to deliver projects of up to 12 months in duration of a cost of between £25,000 and £100,000. The deadline for applications is 4th September. Find out more here
Inclusion Health audit tool
The VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance has developed an online self-assessment tool for voluntary sector organisations to review how well they’re doing in reaching and supporting inclusion health groups (Gypsies and Travellers, vulnerable migrants, sex workers and street homeless). The tool consists of five sections and takes around 15 minutes to complete. Once you have completed the audit tool, you will be provided with a unique and tailored guide which will help your organisation to embed action on tackling health inequalities into its everyday activities. Find out more here
Alcohol and drug misuse treatment
Unlocking The Potential of Mutual Aid in Prisons is a joint Public Health England (PHE) and Her Majesty's Prisons and Probation Service guidance document for pison governors/directors to support the delivery of mutual aid (such as Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and SMART Recovery groups) in prisons. The report forms part of PHE’s Mutual Aid Toolkit for alcohol and drug misuse treatment. The guidance summarises the evidence base for the effectiveness of mutual aid and the benefits it can offer as part of a suite of evidence-based interventions to address substance misuse within prisons. Read the guidance here (PDF)
Prison vetting process
Mutual Aid, Prison Security and Pre-Appointment Vetting is Her Majesty's Prisons and Probation Service guidance which explains the prison vetting process, clears up some common misconceptions and offers help to prospective applicants, including information on applying for Standard Plus vetting. Although the primary aim of the guidance is to increase the likelihood of applications from members of mutual aid groups being successful, particularly those with previous convictions, most of the material is equally applicable to paid and unpaid workers operating in a non-directly employed role or volunteers delivering rehabilitative activities for a prison or an organisation operating in a custodial environment. Find out more here
Better end of life care for people who are homeless
This blog for the Queens Nursing Institute by Elizabeth Lawley and Gillian Barringer of St Luke’s Hospice in Plymouth discusses an innovative approach to end of life care for people who are homeless. People experiencing homelessness have an increased risk of premature death but can face extensive barriers to accessing the end of life care they need. An assessment tool developed by staff and volunteers at the hospice allowed homeless hostel workers, alongside medical specialists, to spot when a person is reaching end of life, and put systems in place to allow them a dignified death, in a place familiar to them, such as the hostel. Read more here
Increased NHS funding
In this blog from The Kings Fund, Professor Sir Chris Ham and Richard Murray discuss what the NHS 10-year plan should look like. The government has announced increases in NHS funding over five years, beginning in 2019-20, and has asked the NHS to come up with a 10-year plan for how this funding will be used. The settlement applies to spending covered by the Mandate to NHS England. The authors write, “The centrepiece of the plan should be a commitment to bring about measurable improvements in population health and to reduce health inequalities.” Read the blog here
Get involved Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter | Join Mailing List
Contact Us www.clinks.org | info@clinks.org | 020 7383 0966
About Clinks Health and Justice Bulletin
This regular bulletin provides Clinks members with the latest news for voluntary sector organisations involved in the health and care of offenders. It currently has 3,169 subscribers.
To submit content, please email rhiannedd.mclean@clinks.org
If you have any comments or ideas about how this bulletin could be improved, or to unsubscribe, please email rhiannedd.mclean@clinks.org
© Clinks, 2018
Registered office: Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA
Registered charity: 1074546 | Company limited by guarantee in England & Wales: 3562176
Designed, composed and circulated by Rhiannedd Mclean, Clinks.