|
answer text |
<p>We are committed to improving the support that we offer to prisoners at risk of
self-harm or suicide. We expect the most important and effective measures to be the
investment of £100 million for recruitment of 2,500 new staff, and the introduction
of new offender management arrangements in prisons under which each key worker will
have particular responsibility for a small number of prisoners. These will greatly
enhance the time and resources available to support prisoners who are at risk.</p><p>
</p><p>New training is being rolled out across the estate to support our staff to
identify the risks and triggers of suicide and self-harm and understand what they
can do to support prisoners at risk. The new training package consists of six sections
including awareness training for staff on supporting prisoners with mental health
issues.</p><p> </p><p>We have put in place specialist roles (regional safer custody
leads) in every region to provide advice to prisons and to spread good practice on
identifying and supporting prisoners at risk. We are using experts – including providing
extra funding for the Samaritans to provide targeted support for prison staff and
to prisoners directly.</p><p> </p><p>Other measures are being developed as part of
our safety programme, which includes specific strands of work on the early days in
custody; the case management of prisoners at risk; improvements to the built environment
of prisons; and building hopefulness amongst prisoners, including through family and
peer support.</p><p> </p><p><em>Older Prisoners</em></p><p>Elderly and frail prisoners
receive support from NHS clinical services and local authority social care, as well
as from prison officers. All staff are trained to appropriate professional standards
for their contribution to care. Supporting elderly prisoners is covered in entry-level
prison officer training. Prison officers are provided with guidance on dementia and
also receive advice and guidance from occupational therapists and social workers at
a local level. We are working closely with clinical leaders and social care services
to improve our understanding of the impacts of dementia across prisons.</p><p> </p><p>We
are currently working to improve our knowledge about the particular health and social
needs of older prisoners so we can determine how we might meet these requirements.
We have set up a working group to explore this issue. This work will include taking
expert advice on what changes we might need to make to the estate or to the regime.</p><p>
</p><p><em>Indeterminate Sentence Prisoners beyond tariff</em></p><p>The release of
prisoners serving indeterminate sentences of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP)
who have completed their tariff is a matter for the independent Parole Board.</p><p>
</p><p>HMPPS is focused on giving IPP prisoners the support, opportunities and motivation
they need to progress more quickly when they are reviewed by the Parole Board so that
they have the best possible prospect for securing release. HMPPS and the Parole Board
have implemented a joint action plan, the purpose of which is to deliver further improvements
and efficiencies in the effort to help IPP prisoners progress towards release.</p>
|
|