Agenda item

Purpose of the report: Scrutiny of Services

The report provides a briefing on the current position of social care provision in Surrey prisons and explores considerations and impacts of proposed future working arrangements of the service.

Witnesses:

Jo Poynter, Area Director

Caroline Hewlett, Senior Manager for Prison Social Care

Key points raised during the discussion:

1.    The Board were advised that the in the first months of operation the new service had completed the number of assessments expected but developments in the prison sector – closure of HMP Holloway, changes to HMP Downview – could have an impact on future demand.

2.       The witnesses were congratulated on the success of the service and asked about the prisoners who were under the threshold for social care. Officers explained that the issues faced by prisoners were broad – learning disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health problems, substance abuse – and they were aware of these. The Senior Manager gave the example of a man with Korsakoff's psychosis who had fallen between services as his needs had been met by the structure of prison and on release these returned, however, now social care was involved due to the existence of this new service.

3.    The Board inquired about the recruitment of Support, Time and Recovery Workers (STRs). Members were advised that recruitment of staff had been a challenge nationwide. In Surrey, five had been recruited and organised into two bases: east and west.

4.    The Board asked about the role of the Family, Friends and Community Support programme in helping prisoners and whether mental health needs were being met. The Senior Manager replied there was some scope for FFC as this was provided from inmate to inmate. In terms, of mental health there had been support offered for women with perinatal difficulties. There is a medical in-reach service provided by the NHS and there was a very clear boundary. On release the council has strong links with the NHS to meet the people’s needs.

5.       Members asked whether the council was adequately funded given the number of prisons in the county and the likelihood of people being detained here from other parts of the country. The Board were informed that the funding was allocated on the basis of prison population not residency. Although Care Act funding met the need for the current prison population, there will not be sufficient funding in 2016 to meet the needs of the increased population in Surrey resulting from the closure of HMP Holloway. Officers were working with the National Care Act Funding Team to ensure that a reallocation of money takes place.

6.    The Board asked how the Officers could be sure the service was a success – what measurements have they been using? Officers reminded Members that this is a new service so their understanding is developing but they do know Surrey is in the top five nationally for the number of referrals and they have been given positive verbal feedback as part of an inspection of HMP Bronzefield. They have commissioned an evaluation of the service which is not yet due for reporting.

Recommendations:

1.    The Board expressed its appreciation of the service’s work in the first year of its operation.

2.    The Board supports the continuation of the current model of service, for a further two years.