Training to Improve Collaborative Practice: A Key Component of Strategy to Reduce Mental Ill Health in the Offender Population

Abstract

Internationally there are unacceptably high numbers of people in contact with the criminal justice system (e.g. in police custody, in court, or in prison) who have mental health issues (Fazel and Danesh, 2002). Addressing mental health in the offender population is essential to maintain public safety, improve the well-being of the offender and their family, and reduce reoffending and the impact of this on the public purse. Poor interagency and interprofessional working have been highlighted as key factors that have severely compromised patient and public safety in the past: working at the interface of the mental health services and criminal justice systems has been shown to be particularly challenging, with complex communication and information-sharing strategies being required. A key aspect of improving joint working is the delivery of a continuous or integrated rehabilitation pathway characterised by early diagnosis, treatment, appropriate sentencing or diversion of people away from the criminal justice system and into mental health services (see Rogers and Ormston, this volume). Integrated, effective partnership working is required between these two systems. Training and development to assist and support staff involved in this team working endeavour is essential. Within the mental health/criminal justice arena the Bradley Report (Bradley, 2009) in the UK calls for joint training between agencies. To date there is little that suggests the content or format this training should take.