[[{"fid":"1985","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Offender Health Bulletin ","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Offender Health Bulletin "},"type":"media","attributes":{}}]]
In this month's edition...
The new health and care system is now operational
On the 1st April the new health and care system to deliver the ambitions set out in the Health and Social Care Act became operational. The Department of Health has published guidance on the new system which explains: the role of the Department of Health in the new system; what the changes mean for patients and local communities; how health and care organisations can work together locally and nationally; and how the interests of people using health and care services are protected. View the guide online here
Recommendations to improve the health of the nation
Dame Sally Davies, Department of Health's Chief Medical Officer, has published the first volume of her annual report setting out evidence-informed recommendations to improve the health of the nation. Key findings on the theme of 'health and justice' include: the hepatitis B vaccination programme in prisons has succeeded in changing the effects of hepatitis B across the whole country in under a decade; the recent increase in the number of deaths from natural causes in prison custody is concerning; and further exploration of the evidence, practicality and cost effectiveness of needle and syringe exchange programmes in prisons would help to inform the debate in this area. Read the full report here
Investment to support drug and alcohol recovery announced
Public Health England have announced the fourth wave of capital investment funding to support drug and alcohol recovery. Sixty-seven awards have been made to projects that include: a housing project in Middlesbrough that delivers ‘move-on’ accommodation for people in recovery; additional counselling rooms at a unique mother and baby residential rehab in Plymouth; further development of a residential alcohol unit in Leeds to increase capacity for detox and rehabilitation; and investment in nursing equipment and refurbishment plans at a unique London crisis detox centre. Ten Clinks members have received funding, including Addaction, Aspire, Nelson Trust and Turning Point. Find out more here
Should police cells be used to detain people suffering a mental health crisis?
Sections 135 and 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 in England and Wales give the police powers to temporarily remove people who appear to be suffering from a mental health disorder to a 'place of safety' which is most often a hospital, but sometimes police stations are used. The Department of Health and Home Office are reviewing the legislative framework through a consultation to make sure the Act offers the right support to people at the right time, and will examine the evidence to determine whether changes to the primary legislation would improve outcomes for people experiencing a mental health crisis. Complete the survey here
Police stations and courts are trialling a health scheme
Half of all prisoners have anxiety or depression and nearly a third of 13-18 year old offenders have a mental health issue. Ten trial Liaison and Diversion Schemes, commissioned by NHS England for 12 months, will fund mental health professionals in police stations and courts to ensure people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities are recognised when they first enter the Criminal Justice System, and get the right treatment promptly. Read the full announcement here
Explore the next steps in offender health commissioning
'Health in the justice system: next steps for offender health commissioning and service integration' is a Westminster Legal Policy Forum seminar [3rd June, central London, from £80+VAT] that will focus on the future provision of health services in the Criminal Justice System in England and Wales. Delegates will examine how a reformed commissioning landscape is impacting on service integration, continuity of care and national standards within prisons and probation. They will also consider further key issues impacting the offender population including mental health, learning disabilities and drug and alcohol addiction. The agenda includes contributions from NHS England, Public Health England, and NOMS. For more information and bookings, click here
'Improving mental health services in the Criminal Justice System' is a Capita conference [29th April, central London, from £245+VAT] that aims to provide advice around optimising the use of Section 136 of the Mental Health Act, implementing effective Liaison and Diversion Schemes and showcasing best practices from street triage programmes. Key topics covered include: understanding NHS England’s commissioning of mental health services in the Criminal Justice System; raising awareness of complex and multiple needs, including personality disorders; learning from trailblazers in street triage and developing integrated approaches; and building effective rehabilitative environments, delivering secure housing and finding employment for ex-offenders. Book your place here How can the criminal justice sector and health sector work more effectively together?'Improving mental and physical offender health' is a Westminster Briefing event [13th May, London, from £175+VAT] that aims to explore the new health commissioning structures, integrated working partnerships and training strategies to best equip you to address offender health issues. Topics for discussion will include: understanding the key health concerns in the Criminal Justice System; drugs and alcohol: addressing and treating widespread abuse; an update on the Bradley Report Revisited Commission; future provisions for mental health; understanding the complex health needs of BME offenders; and developing new working partnerships. View the full agenda, and register here Funding
Two new funding programmes to help disadvantaged people
The Lloyds Bank Foundation have launched two grant funding programmes for charities supporting people to break out of disadvantage at critical points in their lives. Charities with an income of between £25,000 and £1million can apply for grants of up to £25,000 for up to three years from the 'Invest' programme, which funds core organisational costs and delivery costs; and up to £15,000 for up to two years from the 'Enable' programme, for charities which have identified clear developmental needs to develop and improve their capability. Both programmes will fund organisations working with disadvantaged people at certain 'transition points' in their lives including: on release or prior to release from prison; at the start or on completion of a community sentence; and on leaving institutional care and moving on from, or reduction in, support from Community Mental Health Teams. Find out more and apply, here
Improve the wellbeing of people in Lincolnshire
Grants of up to £5,000 are available from the Evan Cornish Grassroots Fund to improve the wellbeing of people in Lincolnshire. The fund aims to make life more comfortable, and to ease distress and isolation for those most in need. Priority areas for the funding are: isolated communities; prisoners and their families; women’s groups; ethnic minorities; older people; and those on low incomes and/or with disabilities and health problems. The deadline for applications is the 1st June. For more information, click here
Awards for tackling homelessness in London
The Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards programme will provide funding for voluntary sector organisations in the Greater London area aiming to improve services to homeless people or tackle the disadvantage that homelessness causes. With a first prize of £30,000, applicants must show evidence of work that: improves services to homeless people or people at risk of becoming homeless; prevents homelessness; tackles disadvantage caused by homelessness; takes an innovative or unique approach; and can be replicated across London. The deadline for entries is the 15th May. Apply here
The voluntary sector's experiences of local health organisations
NAVCA has published three research briefings that explore local charities' and voluntary organisations' attitudes and experiences of local health organisations. The three reports explore the extent to which they feel able to influence Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNA) and the nature of their relationship with local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and local Healthwatch. The reports draw on the findings of a NAVCA survey of its members and the wider voluntary sector. Download the briefings here
Wellbeing at the heart of public policy and design
'Wellbeing and Policy' is a report published by the Legatum Institute concluding that gross domestic product is too narrow a measure of prosperity. It argues that, instead, policy should aim at increasing people’s satisfaction with their lives, using measures of wellbeing as an indicator of success. The report explains how to define and measure wellbeing, and demonstrates how it can be used to measure the success of different policies and different countries. It also identifies new policy priorities including: mental health; support for parents; character building; governance and empowering citizens; volunteering and giving; maintaining a sustainable rate of growth; and wellbeing at work. Download the report here
Changes to the regulation and governance of NHS charities
The Department of Health has published its responses to a consultation held in 2012 seeking views on proposals for changes to both the regulation and governance of NHS charities. There are approximately 260 NHS charities with the aim of enhancing patients' wellbeing and experience rather than delivering core NHS services, and all are bound by both charity law and NHS legislation. A number of NHS charities and their representative bodies and interest groups have called for reform because of concerns about dual regulation, the NHS legislative framework and inflexibility. The report highlights the key issues raised in the consultation and the Government's proposals for change, and can be downloaded here
Research into user involvement in mental health services
'User Involvement in Mental Health Services: A Case of Power Over Discourse' is a research paper by Lydia Lewis of the Centre for Developmental and Applied Research in Education at University of Wolverhampton that presents findings from a qualitative, localised UK-based study of user involvement in mental health services, conducted from a critical discourse analytic perspective, according to one emergent feature - power over discourse. Three themes relating to this discursive regulation are discussed: the rules of the game, the rules of engagement and agenda-setting. Read the paper online here
Views on how we should treat mental health crises
Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb argues that mental health crises should be considered emergencies as they can be just as debilitating and life threatening as physical traumas. He says "How distressing must it be to feel out of control, terrified and confused, only to discover the ‘place of safety’ is not a hospital or acute mental health unit, but a police cell? And what if our means of conveyance is a police vehicle, not an ambulance, and the people around us not medically trained professionals but police officers, who – understandably – are focusing on immediate practicalities rather than a person’s emotional wellbeing?". Read the full article here
Data published on transfer dates for people with behaviour that challenges
NHS England has published the first set of quarterly data prompted by the Winterbourne View Concordat, aimed at getting better care for people with learning difficulties, autism and behaviour that challenges, showing the number of patients currently in inpatient care and whether they have been transferred (or if there is a planned transfer date). Many of these people have very complex needs, might be a danger to themselves and the public, or be detained due to a Ministry of Justice order. Find out more and see the data, here
Guidance on using restraint for health and care workers
The Department of Health has published new advice on the use of restraint for patients with difficult behaviour. 'Positive and Proactive Care: reducing the need for restrictive interventions' aims to reduce the use of this practice and ensure it is only used as a last resort and for the shortest time possible and not to inflict pain, humiliate or punish. Paul Farmer, Chief Executive of Mind, said "When someone is in a mental health crisis they need help, not harm. Physical restraint can be humiliating, dangerous and even life-threatening . . . We look forward to seeing this guidance implemented in health and social care services across England for the benefit of all people with mental health problems". Download the guide, here
Blogs
Treating mental health the same way as physical health
Martin McShane, National Clinical Director for long term conditions at NHS England, has written a blog on NHS England's commitment to 'Parity of Esteem' - making sure mental health gets treated the same way physical health does. He says their programme of work to improve health outcomes focusses on five major areas: improving information; improving crisis care; improving physical health care; improving the way we plan and invest in mental health; improving services. Read the full article, here
Get involved Become a Member | Follow Clinks on Twitter | Join Mailing List
Contact Us www.clinks.org | info@clinks.org | 0207 248 3538
About Clinks Offender Health 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 2674 subscribers.
To submit content, please email ben.watson@clinks.org
If you have any comments or ideas about how this bulletin could be improved, or to unsubscribe, please email ben.watson@clinks.org
Designed, composed and circulated by Ben Watson, Clinks.