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In this month's edition...
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Birth Charter for women in prison launched
This month saw Clinks member Birth Companions launch 'The Birth Charter for women in prison in England and Wales', a comprehensive set of recommendations designed to improve practice and inform policy for pregnant women and new mothers in prison. Around 600 pregnant women are held in prisons in England and Wales and some 100 babies are born to women prisoners each year. Although both legislation and good practice exist to protect their health and well-being, standards of care vary widely, and many women do not receive the care and support to which they are entitled. The Birth Charter sets out the evidence base from policy and research, cites existing examples of good practice, and gives a voice to many women who were pregnant and had their babies in prison. Download a copy and register your support here
Naomi Delap, Director of Birth Companions, has also written a Clinks guest blog talking about launching the Birth Charter with a helping hand from the year's most talked-about soap opera. Read the blog here
Physical health of people with serious mental illness
Four mental health trusts have almost doubled the number of people getting five key physical health checks during a pilot scheme now being shared for adoption across the NHS. Patients with serious mental illness were part of a two-year programme to improve physical care in mental health inpatient units which saw 86% of patients get five recommended cardiovascular screens compared to 46% of patients previously. 2gether NHS Foundation Trust, Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and Tees, and Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust used the 'Lester tool' (a poster and electronic clinical prompt system) to support clinical teams to screen and intervene for cardiovascular conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as smoking, lifestyle and weight. Find out more here
Healthcare at HMP Stafford
Health provision at HMP Stafford is failing to consistently meet the needs of the ageing population, the most recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found. Management of medicines, primary mental health care, dentist services, palliative care and care for people with dementia are all highlighted as areas for concern. However, the inspection did find that health promotion was well coordinated and effective, supported by trained and committed health champions. The CQC has issued three 'requirement to improve' notices, meaning they will return to ensure the recommended improvements have been made, and may issue sanctions against the provider if this is not the case. Read the inspection report here
Establishing service user involvement
Have you recently introduced or increased service user involvement in your organisation? Could you talk about how you did it, and your challenges and successes so far? Clinks is collecting examples of good practice from organisations who have started up new service user involvement activities; stepped up how they involve their service users in designing or delivering services; or successfully developed a culture of engagement in their organisation. If you have good examples to share, or you can suggest another organisation that does, please email hazel.alcraft@clinks.org
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Using surplus NHS land for housing
A National Housing Federation webinar [4th July, online, free] will give you an opportunity to hear about their idea for a new model of partnership between NHS organisations and housing associations to better use surplus NHS land. The model would involve housing associations using the surplus land to develop affordable homes, such as Key Worker housing, or supported housing for people recovering from mental health problems. The webinar will be a chance to hear from and express your views to Vicky Sedgwick, Consultant at Frontier Economics and Nick Nash, Policy and Programme Lead - Surplus Land for the Department of Health. Find out more here
Eliminating viral hepatitis
'Wiping out the silent killer: How drug services will eliminate viral hepatitis in the UK' is an Addaction conference [28th July, London, £99] to look at how UK drug treatment services can rid the UK of viral hepatitis by 2030. The event will provide a unique opportunity to discuss the impact of new treatments, the development of Operational Delivery Networks, and the requisite for treatment provision and support in community settings. Highlighting examples of best practice, delegates will be given a snapshot of how effective treatment and support can be given to advance towards elimination. Find out more and book here
Women who self-harm in prison
Self-harm in women's prisons: Is collaborative care and self-management the future?' is a University of Mancheser conference [15th and 16th September, from £100 per day, Manchester] to consider the implications of current evidence for women who self-harm through presentations, a panel discussion and workshops. Topics will include: service user experience of self-harm in women’s prisons; prison staff perspectives on self-harm; psychodynamic interpersonal therapy for self-harm; medical skin camouflage for self-harm scars (including demonstrations); and recovery and self-harm. For more details contact Dr Kerry Gutridge at kerry.gutridge@manchester.ac.uk
Ending discrimination in mental health
'Minority mental health 2016: Ending discrimination in mental health - Turning the crisis tap off' is a Social Interest Group event [13th October, from £222, London] which will look at how to address the different rates and experiences of mental health problems experienced by different ethnic groups. The event will look at the factors which influence this, and focus on how to change from reactive responses to properly planned services. The event will also be broadcast live online for those unable to travel to London. Register your interest here
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Preventing prison suicide
'Preventing prison suicide: Perspectives from the inside' is a Centre for Mental Health briefing that explores how prisons and healthcare providers can collaborate to prevent suicide in prisons. The briefing, produced with the Howard League for Penal Reform, focuses on the views and lived experience of those with current or past experience of prison, examining what contributes to vulnerability and risk of suicide. The briefing says staff shortages have increased the risk of suicide, and that prisoners described a culture where, on the whole, distress was not believed or responded to with compassion. Download the briefing here
Legal highs and drug use in prison
'Spice: the bird killer' is a User Voice report reflecting the voices and experiences of serving prisoners in relation to legal highs and the use of drugs in prison. The report finds that ‘spice’ (synthetic cannabis) is now the most popular drug in prison, with a third of respondents having used it in the previous month, and that prisoners are using the drug to self-medicate in the absence of access to mental health services. Respondents said they were unlikely to report problems with substance misuse due to a perception that staff would seek to punish users due to a lack of harm reduction training. Download the report here
Dementia, equity and rights
'Dementia, equity and rights' is a new publication from the Health and Care Voluntary Sector Strategic Partners which addresses the differences in risk and prevalence of dementia for different population groups. Although anyone can develop dementia, some population groups experience higher prevalence rates and greater disparities in the care they receive, and the support offered to carers. The report looks at how access and provision of services must take into account the needs of different groups such as black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people, people with disabilities, and different socio-economic populations, including people with multiple and complex needs. Download the report here
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGB&T) people in health and care
The National LGB&T Partnership published 'Out Loud: LGBT Voices in Health and Social Care'; a narrative account of LGB&T people's experiences of health and social care services. It is intended to be used both by those who provide services and those who commission services, to support them to work with LGB&T people. The aim is to provide a resource to assist in designing and providing care and support that will be successful in meeting LGB&T people’s needs, and is inclusive of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity; focusing outcomes on what matters most to LGB&T people as service users. Download the report here
Health inspector's five year strategy
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published its strategy for 2016 to 2021, setting out its vision for a more targeted, responsive and collaborative approach to regulation, so more people can get high quality care. 'Shaping the future' describes how CQC will combine learning from 22,000 comprehensive inspections with better use of intelligence from the public, providers and partners in order to focus inspections more tightly to where people may be at risk of poor care. The strategy was developed following a year-long consultation period, during which thousands of people, providers, staff and partners shared their views about the future of regulation. Download the strategy here
Children's mental health services
The Children's Commissioner has published 'Lightning Review: Access to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services', which aims to cast light on issues that exist in mental health services for vulnerable young people. For example, the report that finds that large numbers of children and young people are being turned away from child and adolescent mental health services upon referral, or having to wait long periods of time for treatment. By highlighting these issues, the Children's Commisioner hopes it will draw commissioners’ and policymakers’ attention to possible weaknesses in local systems and help them improve provision so that more young people can have their mental health needs met and so begin to recover and rebuild their lives. Download the report here
Fund
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Health budget details
NHS England has published indicative figures for how much each part of England could see its NHS budget grow by 2020, and the funding available for transformation. This will help local NHS and care leaders develop their Sustainability & Transformation plans. The report shows how the NHS Five Year Forward View will be implemented locally, using the growing funding envelope available to each area. Find out more here
Physical healthcare for people with mental health problems
'Improving the physical health of people with mental health problems' is a Department of Health and Public Health England guidance document to support mental health nurses to provide tailored physical healthcare for people with mental health problems. This document focuses on how to deal with some of the main risk factors for physical health problems, and helps to make sure that people living with mental health problems have the same access to health checks and healthcare as the rest of the population. Download the guidance here
Guidance on psychoactive substances
Local Government Association has published 'Psychoactive Substances Act: A council guide', a guidance document outlining the key provisions for the Psychoactive Substances Act and the implications for council teams that have been involved in tackling psychoactive substances and the problems they cause. The Act came into effect on 26th May 2016 and bans the production, distribution, sale and supply of psychoactive substances. The guide gives an overview of the Act; covers the impact of the new legislation and the expected enforcement approach; and looks at the role of councils. Download the guide here
Sex-working women in residential drug treatment
'Losing my voice' is a Griffins Society research report on the barriers and facilitators to disclosure for sex-working women in residential drug treatment. Sex workers present a complex and unique footprint of needs and behaviour patterns. The author interviewed street sex workers, escorts and parlour workers, with the aim of contextualising the meanings sex workers placed on sharing their internal world with others and the powerful impact of disclosure of sex work in relation to their treatment. Download the report here
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A new vision for the voluntary sector in health and care?
Clinks' Development Officer for Health and Justice, Hazel Alcraft, has written a blog outlining the recommendations of the 'VCSE Review', a joint review by the Department of Health, Public Health England, NHS England and the voluntary sector into partnerships and investment between the voluntary and health and care sectors. Hazel writes, 'The report contains 28 recommendations for government, local agencies and the voluntary sector; many of which will be very familiar to Clinks' regular readers, echoing similar calls we have made to improve voluntary sector engagement in the criminal justice landscape.' Read the full blog here
Inequalities in mental health for gay, bisexual, lesbian and trans individuals
To mark Mental Health Awareness Week and the International Day Against Homophobia, Dr Justin Varney, consultant in public health medicine for Public Health England's (PHE) Adults and Older People team, has written an article for PHE’s Public Health Matters blog. The article outlines some of the stark inequalities in mental health for gay, bisexual, lesbian and trans individuals, as well as the importance of addressing discrimination and homophobia and the role these play in undermining an individual’s self-worth and identity. Read the blog here
Prison drug treatment
Russell Webster has written a blog entitled 'The challenge of effective prison drug treatment' which explores an article by Professor Neil McKeganey, Centre for Substance Use Research, Glasgow; Charlie Lloyd, Department of Health Sciences; and other colleagues. The article, 'Meeting the needs of prisoners with a drug or alcohol problem: No mean feat', is based on structured interviews with 319 prisoners beginning enhanced treatment on drug recovery wings in prisons in England and Wales. The blog summarises the key findings from the prisoner interviewees regarding their substance misuse, mental health and other needs. Read the blog here
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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 2,848 subscribers.
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