Prison Mental Health In-Reach Team praised in Prison Inspection Report
28/092007
Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s mental health in-reach team
received high praise in a recent report by the HM Inspectorate of Prisons.
The work was highlighted as an example of good practice for others to follow.
Examples highlighted in the report of where the team is working very successfully
include:-
- A holistic approach to mental healthcare of prisoners, based on sound
relationships with internal and external agencies
- Excellent working relationships with external health agencies to
assist prisoners on release plus effective liaison with GPs about a prisoner’s
health while in prison
- Excellent links with community teams
- Extremely good staff-prisoner relationships in mental health services throughout the prison
The team comprises:
- Kath Hodges, Community Psychiatric Nurse and In-reach team leader
- Jaynie Shedden, Community Psychiatric Nurse
- Diana Lovemore, Occupational Therapist has recently joined the team
- Jim Laidlaw, Consultant Psychiatrist
- Andy Webb, Court Liaison Nurse also work closely with them.
The team receive approx 35 referrals a month from internal and external sources including health care staff, probation services, community mental health teams, officers and self referrals. All referrals are followed up by the team and, on release from prison, people needing further psychiatric care are referred on, or signposted to, appropriate services. These include prisoners who live outside Gloucestershire who are signposted to services in their own locality.
The team facilitate meetings before release and facilitate all hospital transfers. Approximately 15 prisoners a year are transferred to specialist psychiatric hospitals.
They work closely with prison staff and have good working relationships with the healthcare team and substance misuse workers. An important part of their role is to work with Prison staff supporting those prisoners who are at risk of suicide or self harm.
Hazel Watson, Director of Nursing said “The prison mental health in
reach team has gone from strength to strength over the past four years and
it is good to see their hard word and dedication recognised.”
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