Archived: Offender Health Psychiatric In Reach - HMP Bure

There were effective policies and arrangements in place to ensure that people who received care, treatment and support from the secondary mental health in-reach team in timely way. This included an integrated pathway that was regularly reviewed. This pathway clearly set out the roles and responsibilities of all healthcare partners in ensuring that people were referred and assessed in a timely way. Adherence to the integrated pathway was monitored.

The provider submitted evidence that showed that the way in which people were referred to, and assessed by the secondary mental health team was timely and effective. The evidence also showed that the effectiveness of these arrangements, and staff's compliance with the integrated mental health pathway was monitored and discussed on a regular basis. Records showed that people's experience of care and treatment that involved more than one healthcare provider was kept under review.

The provider's mental health pathway was developed with reference to national guidance and had been reviewed in early 2013. However, we found that referrals to the team were not being effectively monitored, so we could not determine whether patients were being referred appropriately, or assessed promptly.

Staff had access to patient electronic records in common with other healthcare providers. These arrangements supported safe collaborative working and continuity of care and treatment. However, the links between mental health teams employed by different providers were not always effective, particularly in supporting the development of on-going care plans.

Staff had appropriate qualifications and experience to meet the needs of the prison population and the competence of staff was actively monitored.