Search results for ‘Subject term:"mental health problems"’ Sort:
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Statutory disclosure guidance
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Home Office
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Home Office
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 6
- Place of publication:
- London
- Edition:
- 2nd ed.
Revised statutory code of practice for chief officers of police to help them decided what police information to disclose during Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. The revised guidance includes advice on disclosing information relating to mental health, and advises whether and when to include information about detentions in police cells or health-based places of safety when someone experiencing a mental health crisis comes into contact with the police. Information from Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks is used by an employer to decide whether someone is a suitable person to work with children or vulnerable adults. (Edited publisher abstract)
There to help: ensuring provision of appropriate adults for mentally vulnerable adults detained or interviewed by police
- Authors:
- BATH Chris, et al
- Publisher:
- National Appropriate Adult Network
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 19
Examines current appropriate adult (AA) arrangements for vulnerable adults, identifying shortcomings in provision, and setting out recommendations for ensuring provision for all who need it. This briefing paper is based on a research project which entailed a review of existing literature and law, new data from police forces, liaison and diversion services, AA services and custody officers and interviews and consultation involving senior stakeholders and individuals with direct experience of the criminal justice system. The paper highlights that there are significant shortcomings in current AA provision, particularly in terms of inadequate police practices and limited availability and variable quality of AAs. Many vulnerable adults do not receive the support of an AA or receive it only for part of the custody process. The underlying causes of these findings include: the absence of statutory duties either to secure or to provide AAs for vulnerable adults; lack of appropriate training and screening tools for police; time pressures in the custody suite; diminishing public sector funding and a lack of clarity over responsibility for commissioning. On the basis of a conservative estimate, 11 per cent of adult suspects require an AA. The annual cost of ensuring full provision of trained AAs from organised schemes, throughout the custody process and across England and Wales, is estimated at £19.5 million (£113,000 per local authority). Current national spending on AA provision for adults is estimated to be in excess of £3 million per year. The report calls for the development of a new approach at a national strategic level and a vision shared by relevant departmental bodies, agencies and organisations. (Edited publisher abstract)
Attitudes towards offenders with mental health problems scale
- Authors:
- GLENDINNING Anna Louise, O' KEEFFE Ciaran
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Mental Health Training Education and Practice, 10(2), 2015, pp.73-84.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to suggest that there was a need for a psychometric measure to assess attitudes specifically towards offenders with mental health problems. The “Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill” scale (CAMI; Taylor and Dear, 1981) was adapted to create a new psychometric measure; the “Police and Community Attitudes towards Offenders with Mental Illness” scale (PACAMI-O). Design/methodology/approach: A sample of police and community participants (n=178) completed this scale through the online surveying system, Psychdata. The new psychometric measure utilised the same 40 items featured in the CAMI; although, the wording was adapted. Findings: The internal reliability for the combined sample was high (α=0.929), which implied very good internal reliability. An exploratory factor analysis identified four new factors: Self-Preservation, Societal Reservation, Mental Health Awareness and Treatment Ideology. A t-test revealed there was a significant difference between the scores of the police and community sample, with the effect size depicting a large magnitude between the means (t(176)=p=0.019, η2=0.16). Practical implications: The PACAMI-O scale appears adequate for measuring attitudes towards its targeted sample and has shown utility with; a professional group (police officers and custody sergeants) who potentially face such offenders (primarily in the context of using Section 136 of the Mental Health Act). It therefore has practical implications in assessing attitudes with other groups within forensic mental health. Originality/value: Assessing attitudes towards offenders with mental health problems would enable a better understanding of the formation of negative attitudes and stigmatisation and therefore, ways of tackling treatment, rehabilitation and also community reintegration (Publisher abstract)
Mental health and policing: improving crisis care
- Authors:
- NHS CONFEDERATION. Mental Health Network, ASSOCIATION OF CHIEF POLICE OFFICERS
- Publisher:
- NHS Confederation. Mental Health Network
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 12
- Place of publication:
- London
This briefing highlights some of the emerging good practice between the police and mental health providers to deliver improved care for people in mental health crisis. It demonstrates that by focusing on early intervention, partnership working can substantially reduce the number of people being subjected to mental health legislation. Benefits include: less distress for service users; better use of professional skill mix; cost savings for police, healthcare and local authority services; and improved signposting and provision of appropriate interventions for individuals. The briefing makes a number of recommendations, including: more work needs to be done to support multiagency information sharing on the front line; NHS commissioners need to work with providers to ensure there are sufficient health-based places of safety to meet local demand; commissioners need to ensure that sufficient services are in place for 24/7 provision to meet local need; the formal evaluation of the triage pilots should outline the key considerations for implementing different models of triage across different populations and demographics; and the outcome of the Home Office pilot should inform the role the voluntary sector can play in providing alternative places of safety for individuals in crisis. (Edited publisher abstract)
Policing and mental health: eleventh report of session 2014–15: report, together with formal minutes
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Parliament. House of Commons. Home Affairs Committee
- Publisher:
- TSO
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 42
- Place of publication:
- London
Examines the prevalence of people with mental health illnesses in the criminal justice system, focusing on what happens when people who experience mental illness come into contact with the police. The report looks at issues around detention under the Mental Health Act, including detention of children, police and health service collaboration, and training. It raises concerns about the extent to which frontline officers are increasingly spending their time helping people with mental health problems and about the use of police cells as a place of safety. The report main findings and recommendations include: police cells should no longer be stated as a place of safety for those detained under section 136; too many NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) are failing in their duty to provide enough health-based places of safety that are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and are adequately staffed; the police need to make sure they use their powers in relation to mental health correctly, to reduce the numbers detained and so reduce pressure on both the police and the NHS; the NHS needs to make places available to look after children experiencing a mental health crisis locally; people encountering a mental health crisis should be transported to hospital in an ambulance if an emergency services vehicle is needed; the Government should give a clear commitment that funding will be made available for schemes which have been proven to be cost-effective. (Edited publisher abstract)
There to help: ensuring provision of appropriate adults for mentally vulnerable adults detained or interviewed by police
- Authors:
- BATH Chris, et al
- Publisher:
- National Appropriate Adult Network
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 88
- Place of publication:
- Ashford
Report to examine appropriate adults (AA) arrangements for vulnerable adults who are detained or interviewed by police, identify shortcomings in provision and present recommendations for ensuring full AA provision for all vulnerable adults. The project involved a review of existing literature and law; data collected from police forces, liaison and diversion services, AA services and custody officers; and interviews and consultation involving senior stakeholders and individuals with direct experience of the criminal justice system. The main findings identified significant shortcomings in current AA provision for mentally vulnerable adult suspects, particularly in terms of: inadequate police practices with respect to identification of suspects’ vulnerabilities and the need for AAs, and the recording of relevant data; limited availability of AAs; variable quality of AAs. It found that many vulnerable adults did not receive the support of an AA or receive it only for part of the custody process. Barriers to the provision of adequate services included: the absence of statutory duties either to secure or to provide AAs for vulnerable adults; lack of appropriate training and screening tools for police; time pressures in the custody suite; diminishing public sector funding and a lack of clarity over responsibility for commissioning. The report makes 10 recommendations to improve the level and quality of provision. (Edited publisher abstract)
Evaluation of the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Street Triage Service
- Authors:
- IRVINE Annie, ALLEN Lyndsey, WEBBER Martin
- Publisher:
- University of York
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 106
- Place of publication:
- York
Assesses the impact of the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale (SWR) Street Triage service, which was introduced to bridge a gap between police and NHS mental health services, and to help reduce the number of detentions under s.136 Mental Health Act 1983. Street Triage refers to schemes where mental health professionals are available to advise and support police officers on incidents where an individual appears to be in mental health crisis. The evaluation used both qualitative and quantitative methods within a co-production framework and 46 key informants were interviews in individual and group interviews. They provided a very positive account of the SWR Street Triage service from the perspective of both the police and NHS mental health services. Street triage was described as a service that ‘prevents and avoids unnecessary escalation to admissions’. Its most significant impact appears to be a reduction in the use of community mental health services, though it is on the pathway to inpatient admission for a small number of people who require this. Its introduction was not associated with a reduction in s.136 detentions, but these appear to be already used sparingly in the SWR region where there is arguably no surfeit to reduce (Edited publisher abstract)
Inquiry into non-natural deaths in detention of adults with mental health conditions, 2010-13. Evidence from the families of those who have died; collected on family listening day event, 7 November 2014, organised by INQUEST
- Author:
- TULLY Chris
- Publisher:
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 35
- Place of publication:
- London
Report of a family listening day event held to help the Equality and Human Rights Commission gather evidence from the families of adults with mental health conditions who had died in detention. A total of 15 families attended and were joined by INQUEST staff (a charity experienced in providing in-depth specialist casework service to bereaved families) and seven panel members from the Commission. The report provides evidence from the families of adults who had died in detention in the following settings: after contact with the police (seven cases represented by nine family members); in psychiatric settings (four cases represented by seven family members); and in prison (four cases represented by eight family member). Themes identified included: failure to provide appropriate treatment; failure to listen to families concerns regarding treatment; use of force and restraint; lack of bed spaces and place of safety provision following detention under the Mental Health Act; lack of support and services prior to entering psychiatric detention; failure to consult families to discuss appropriate treatment and care; and lack of disclosure of information whilst in detention. Groups also had the opportunity to discuss their family bereavements within the context of a number of key themes: the mental health needs of those who died, any factors which exacerbated their problems, the suitability of support provided to meet their needs, difficulties encountered, the investigation process post death and any examples of good practice. (Edited publisher abstract)
Alternative place of safety: the West Sussex pilot evaluation 2015
- Author:
- GREAT BRITAIN. Home Office
- Publisher:
- Great Britain. Home Office
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 72
- Place of publication:
- London
An evaluation of the pilot of an alternative place of safety in Sussex for adults detained under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 which aimed to examine whether this alternative could provide a better option for people experiencing a mental health crisis whilst awaiting a mental health assessment. Specifically the evaluation examined: if a third sector organisation could work in partnership with statutory agencies to provide an effective place of safety as a viable alternative to a custody suite in a police station; the number, type and characteristic of detentions manageable by an APoS; and perceptions of police officers and partner agencies involved in implementing and utilising the scheme. The report provides a description of the service offered, its impact on some of the recipients of these services and the lessons that were learned by the organisations whilst setting up and running the service. Although the number of section 136 detentions were low during the pilot, those involved felt that the APoS was a suitable alternative that functioned effectively. Building on the pilot it is recommended that those responsible for proving places of safety seek to commission third sector organisations to support people detained as an alternative to police custody; develop a model of best practice for an APoS; ensure places of safety have onward pathways in place for those detained so they are offered practical solutions and support such as housing, employment, debt and relationship advice; and promote a person centred-approach for people in crisis who require a combination of psychological, social and medical crisis intervention and support. (Edited publisher abstract)
Preventing deaths in detention of adults with mental health conditions: an Inquiry by the Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Author:
- EQUALITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
- Publisher:
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 82
- Place of publication:
- London
Reports on an inquiry into the deaths of 367 adults with mental health conditions who died of 'non-natural' causes while in police cells or as detained patients over the period 2010-13, plus a further 295 who died in prison custody in England and Wales. The Inquiry aimed to establish the extent to which there had been compliance with Article 2 (the right to life) together with Article 14 (the right to non-discrimination) of the European Convention on Human Rights. Evidence was also received evidence from individual, organisations and families of those who died in detention. Chapters cover: Human rights and the Human Rights Framework, dignity and respect, risk and assessment; access to treatment and support; and investigations and preventing future deaths. The final chapter also presents analysis on the current situation in Scotland. The inquiry found detained patients in hospitals to be a particularly vulnerable group. It was also difficult to access information following a non-natural death of detained patients in hospitals. In relation to detention in prisons, the report found an increase in non-natural deaths between 2012 and 13 with a further increase in 2014. Although there are few deaths within police custody, police should be able to respond appropriately to people with mental health conditions, whilst minimising the use of restraint. It also recommends that police should record and publish the use of restraint. The Inquiry makes recommendations in four key areas: learning lessons and creating rigorous systems and processes; a stronger focus on meeting basic responsibilities to keep detainees safe; greater transparency and robust investigations; and that the EHRC Human Rights Framework should be adopted and used as a practical tool in prisons, police custody and psychiatric hospitals. (Edited publisher abstract)