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In this month's edition...
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Providing care and support to prisoners
The Care Act, which comes into force in April 2015, clarifies the responsibilities of local authorities for the care and support needs of prisoners while they are in prison or approved premises such as bail hostels. ADASS are working with NOMS, the Ministry of Justice, health partners and local authorities to ensure a smooth and effective implementation of the Care Act in these settings. They are looking for good practice examples from the voluntary sector who are currently providing care and support to prisoners living with long-term health conditions and disabilities, either directly or through developing peer support capacity. Find out more on the Prison and the Care Act forum, email hazel.alcraft@clinks.org with details of how to register on the forum, and with any examples of good practice.
Voluntary sector engagement with health and care
Clinks and the Health and Care Strategic Partners have launched a survey of charities and voluntary organisations to find out more about how they are engaging with health and care partners. The survey aims to find out how the people that the sector supports are represented on different local health structures, and in the development of local health and social care priorities. The survey’s findings will be used to lobby key decision makers and funders; by taking part you will be helping make sure that funders and decision makers know more about your needs. The survey has 20 questions and can be completed in 15 minutes. Complete the survey here
Supporting people with autism
The Department of Health are seeking views on new guidance for local authorities and NHS organisations to support 'Think Autism', the government's programme to improve the lives of people with autism, and the adult autism strategy. The areas the consultation looks at include the following: staff training; identification and diagnosis of autism in adults; local planning and leadership; preventative support and safeguarding; supporting people with complex needs; employment for adults with autism; and working with the Criminal Justice system. The consultation closes on 19th December. Find out more and submit your response here
Liaison and Diversion news
Liaison and Diversion schemes work with a range of partners, including the voluntary sector, to improve the early identification, referral and treatment of people with a range of vulnerabilities (including mental health, learning disabilities, substance misuse and more) in the Criminal Justice System. The new national programme, delivered by NHS England, aims to extend full coverage of Liaison and Diversion provision across England by 2017. The Liaison and Diversion bulletin is published monthly and covers a range of topics related to the programme including details of local schemes and developments, event reports and case studies demonstrating how service users have benefited from the programme. Subscribe to the bulletin here
The impact of sport on the mental health of young offenders
Hannah Baumer, a prospective PhD research student at the Criminology and Sociology department at Royal Holloway, University of London, is looking to explore the impact of sport and exercise on the mental health of young offenders. The aim of this research is to build on previous research into sport in prisons, and focus on improving the provision of mental health services across the Criminal Justice System. Read more about the research here, and can get in touch with Hannah at hannahsbaumer@gmail.com
Blogging about mental health
'A Day In The Life', an online project supported by Public Health England, is calling on people living with mental health difficulties to blog about their lives. They will be invited to share their experiences of what makes their mental health better and what makes it worse by submitting a 700 word blog on set days as part of the year-long project. The project aims to provide an insight into the lives of people living with a mental health issue to help inform the development of policies and projects which better meet their needs; and to better educate and raise awareness among the wider public of the reality of mental health issues. Find out more here
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The voluntary sector's use of data
'Using data: how to make your case and influence people' is an Involve Yorkshire and Humber event [8th December, Leeds, from £40] that aims to guide participants through the internet and highlight where to locate relevant statutory and voluntary sector data to evidence need, influence strategic decisions and support funding applications. Participants will be given a brief introduction on why the use of data is becoming increasingly relevant and an overview of useful sources and contacts, followed by three short workshops: An exploration of Public Health England tools and products in 60 minutes; Engaging with NICE guidelines, quality standards and more; and Exploring third sector data. For more information and bookings, click here
Delivering person centred care
CSV, ECORYS, and In Control will host four 'Integrated Personal Commissioning: Realising Person Centred Care Through Volunteering' events [10th December, Cambridge; 28th January, London; 3rd February, Preston; 11th February, Leeds | free] that aim to explore how volunteers and voluntary sector organisations can contribute to and help deliver integrated, person centred care, in the context of ambitions of the Integrated Personalised Commissioning programme. The events will also contribute to the development of guidance on how the voluntary sector can help people with health and care needs access and make effective use of the resources and support available (including personal health budgets) to shape meaningful care. For information and bookings contact Emily Michelis, emichelis@csv.org.uk
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Improving health in Wales
The Rest Fund is open to charities in South Wales to support individuals who are affected by ill health, work-limiting health conditions, disabilities or ageing. Grants of up to £100,000 are available for the provision of short term care facilities; and the provision of recreational and other day care facilities for the aged and infirm in the interests of social welfare with the object of improving their conditions of life. The deadline for applications is 22nd December, and the grants are being managed by WCVA. Find out more and apply here
Innovation for disabled people
The Inclusive Technology Prize is offering a final prize contract of £50,000 for a project demonstrating innovation in products, technologies and systems that allow disabled people, their families, friends and carers equal access to life’s opportunities. Innovations must involve co-creation with disabled people and can relate to any aspect of life including education, home, leisure, transport and work. They particularly welcome entries from disabled people, user groups, community groups, the maker community, designers, students and assistive technology professionals; and ideas co-created with disabled people. The deadline for entries is 16th January. More information is available on the website here
Understanding personal health budgets
Some of the people who rely most on NHS services now have the 'right to have' their care delivered through a personal health budget. The Gearing Up for Personal Health Budgets Programme is inviting bids from voluntary sector organisations for £10,000 to help people and families get a good sense of what should be expected from the NHS, and equip them with the information to help them get a personal health budget in line with established national best practice. The deadline for applications is 1st December. Find out more and apply here
Alcohol recovery services
Public Health England (PHE) has announced the second round of funding for drug and alcohol recovery services. Local authorities and service providers are able to apply for capital funding to support recovery-focused projects. PHE regional centres are sending out details of the application process and further details will be included in future Clinks bulletins once known. In the meantime if you require more information you can find your regional centre's contact details here
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Healthcare in secure settings
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published the plans for its new approach to regulating healthcare in secure settings. Healthcare services in prisons, youth offender institutions (YOI) and immigration removal centres (IRCs) will be subject to CQC's new style of regulation from next year and the public have been invited to give their views on the new model. CQC chief inspector of general practice, Steve Field says "People who use services in secure settings are generally in a more vulnerable situation because they rely on authorities for their safety, care and wellbeing, and they are unable to choose their care. It is our responsibility to ensure that detainees are safeguarded against ill treatment and receive the same quality of care as the rest of the population." Download the plans and give your views here
Health in the youth justice system
'Young lives behind bars' is a British Medical Association report looking at the health and human rights of children and young people detained in the Criminal Justice System. The report highlights that, although the origins of offending behaviour are complex, many of the children and young people in detention represent a failure by the individuals and agencies whose job it is to care for and support them. It focuses specifically on the role and responsibilities of doctors and other health professionals in protecting, promoting and realising the health-related rights of children who have been placed into secure accommodation. Download the report here
Health-based places of safety
'A safer place to be' is a report showing the findings from the Care Quality Commission's survey of health-based places of safety for people detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act. The survey focussed on the availability and accessibility of health-based places of safety; staffing and training; target times and delays in carrying out mental health assessments; governance, reporting and multi-agency working; and the role of police and ambulance services. Overall the report finds that some places of safety are operating effectively, with innovative examples of positive practice and organisational developments. However, there was also evidence that recommended national standards are not being fully met in some areas. See the report's key findings, and an online map that logs all the health-based places of safety, here
Specialist alcohol services
'Alcohol care in England’s hospitals. An opportunity not to be wasted' is a Public Health England report summarising the available evidence for the contribution of specialist alcohol services for patients in secondary care. It takes in recommendations from a range of advisers over the last decade and, based on recent surveys, explores the interventions that these services might provide and describes what is understood about current service provision. Download the report here
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Alcohol treatment statistics
Public Health England have published their statistics for alcohol treatment activity in England 2013-14. Compared to the previous period, the statistics show a 5% increase in the number of people receiving alcohol treatment; a 6% increase in the number of people overcoming their alcohol dependency; and a fall in waiting times. The statistics are from the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System produced by the University of Manchester. Download the statistics here
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Do local JSNAs miss the needs of offenders?
Recent research by Public Health England (PHE) suggests there is a great deal of variety between local authorities: just under half the Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) produced by 147 local authorities across England included a direct reference to the health needs of offenders. Of the other half, almost all include a reference to related issues, such as substance misuse or mental health needs. Only 3 local authorities have no reference to health and justice issues at all. In this blog Clinks’ Offender Health Co-ordinator, Hazel Alcraft, discusses these findings and what they mean for offenders and the voluntary sector organisations who work with them. Read the blog here
A view on personal health budgets
Dr Raj Mitra, a Lambeth GP and a member of the NHS Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group Governing Body, explains why he believes personal health budgets will be an important option for his patients to better manage their long term health conditions. He says "As a GP, the time I have with people is limited, so the opportunity for people with complex health needs to spend time co-creating their own care plan in partnership with their NHS team is really valuable. It’s about understanding what matters to you, and not just 'what’s the matter with you?'" Read the blog here
Supporting vulnerable families
Anne Hoskins, Director of Children, Young People and Families at Public Health England, has written a blog entitled 'improving the health of vulnerable families'. It follows the launch of interim guidance to support the health needs of troubled families and work with local councils. Anne says "Improving the health of our most vulnerable families is one of the most complex, but potentially rewarding challenges we face. However, it cannot be tackled in isolation. It requires services to be joined up around the family, intervening at an earlier stage, and tackling health concerns of whole families as part of a bigger picture of employment, education and housing." 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 2,361 subscribers.
To submit content, please email ben.watson@clinks.org
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Designed, composed and circulated by Ben Watson, Clinks.