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<p>The department remains committed to reforming our prisons to make them safe and
secure establishments with access to health, including mental health services to support
the rehabilitation of offenders in custody.</p><p>Health services, in English prisons
are commissioned by NHS England and by Local Health Boards in Wales, informed by evidence
of the need in each prison. All prisoners have an initial health screen at reception
by clinical staff and may be referred for further treatment, within or outside prisons,
where mental health needs are identified.</p><p>Prison staff also have a critical
role to play in identifying mental health needs and supporting prisoners. We are rolling
out new suicide and self-harm prevention training which includes a module on mental
health awareness. This is being delivered to all new prison officers as part of their
entry level training (POELT), to existing prison officers, and to non-HMPPS staff
who come into contact with prisoners.</p><p>Alongside this, we are investing £100
million towards recruitment of 2,500 new staff, and introducing new offender management
arrangements in prisons under which Key Workers will have particular responsibility
for a small number of prisoners. These measures will enhance the time and resources
available to support prisoners. Dedicated officers will be able to build a relationship
with prisoners and be in a better position to recognise and respond to changes in
their behaviour or their mental well-being.</p><p>We are continuing to work with our
health partners to improve our understanding of the mental health of prisoners. Since
April 2017 we have launched co-commissioning, which means governors will now begin
to have greater input into decision making about health provision in their prisons,
enabling them to identify and work with health commissioners to contribute to the
commissioning of quality healthcare services.</p><p />
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