SCC Prison Social Care Team

On this page

• Overview
• Person-centred Care
• Care provision, Integration and continuity
• Providing Information
• Listening to and involving people
• Equity in access
• Equity in experiences and outcomes
• Planning for the future

Responsive – this means we looked for evidence that the provider met people’s needs.

This is the first assessment for this newly registered service. This key question has been ratedgood.

This meant people’s needs were met through good organisation and delivery.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider always made sure people were at the centre of their care and treatment choices and they decided, in partnership with people, how to respond to any relevant changes in people’s needs.

People received person-centred care that was tailored to their needs and preferences. They told us the staff and management knew them well and they had no complaints. The staff and management consistently put people at the centre of the care and support they put in place, to benefit them and improve their quality of life.

For example, one person had a learning disability, significant cognitive and communication impairments, sensory processing difficulties, and active psychotic symptoms. They experienced severe difficulties across activities of daily living and required structured, ongoing support to maintain basic self‑care, wellbeing, and safety.

Following a multi-disciplinary meeting, it was agreed that the team would visit the person 3 times a week to help with personal care, dressing, meals, laundry, and cleaning. In addition, ongoing mental health and OT support was provided. Adapted communication strategies such as simple language, repetition, visual prompts and extended processing time were also put in place. These measures resulted in improved consistency in care delivery and a reduction in the person’s distress.

People’s support plans contained detailed information about people’s needs and how to meet these within the system they lived in. Information included any risks identified, how to reduce these and planned outcomes.

The provider understood the diverse health and care needs of people and their local communities, so care was joined-up, flexible and supported choice and continuity.

People told us they received good care, and their healthcare needs were met, and relatives echoed this. There were regular reviews organised to help ensure any changes to people’s needs or wishes were discussed and care adjusted to meet their needs.

People had a range of conditions which provided them with daily challenges. For example, some people experienced mental health conditions, had a learning disability or were on the autistic spectrum. The social care team understood these challenges and went above and beyond to provide care and support that was non-judgemental and kind. This included working closely with the relevant professionals and providing equipment and routine that reduced their level of anxiety and made their daily lives more manageable.

One person had expressed fear and anxiety, due to communication barriers because English was not their first language. The team organised for them to receive support from a social care peer who spoke their language, and this had improved communication and reduced anxiety.

The provider supplied appropriate, accurate and up-to-date information in formats that were tailored to individual needs.

People’s communication needs were assessed during their initial assessment so that information could be made available to them in a format that suited their needs. People were given information about the service prior to the start of their support. This included how to access advocacy services, and how to make a complaint if they had a concern. The registered manager told us, “We provide documents in easy read format, or translated to the person’s first language as needed. We used a BSL (British Sign Language) interpreter to assist with an assessment. We arranged for them to sit and talk to the service user once a week to provide companionship and reduce the feelings of isolation. [Specialist agency] also provide equipment and support for people who are sight impaired.”

People received a copy of their care plan to keep in their cell. The registered manager told us, “We share the assessments with the service users to check they are happy with the overall assessment. Each service user is given a copy which includes their support plan.”

People were listened to and involved in the planning and delivery of their care. They had the opportunity to discuss any wishes they may have. There were regular care reviews where people could discuss their needs and any changes necessary. There were leaflets displayed in the prisons detailing the complaints procedure. The registered manager told us, “If someone raises a concern I go and see them and give them one of the leaflets as well.”

Complaints were taken seriously and addressed appropriately and records we viewed confirmed this. People told us they knew how to make a complaint and felt this would be taken seriously. They told us they did not have any complaints.

The provider undertook a yearly survey to obtain people’s views of the service. We viewed the most recent survey which showed an overall satisfaction.

The provider made sure that people could access the care, support and treatment they needed when they needed it.

Some people were supported within the prison by peer workers. These were inmates who had first been vetted by the prison security team before they were able to begin working in a social care peer role. Once clearance was granted, the social care team delivered their in-housetraining package to the peer workers. The registered manager told us, “We also hold monthly supervision sessions, which all peers are expected to attend, where they provide updates on the service users they support. Between these sessions, support workers are regularly present on the wings, and peer workers are encouraged to raise any concerns as they arise.”

People and relatives told us the social care team enabled them to have access to the care and support they required and this had helped them with the challenges they faced. They felt the staff cared or them and understood they needs. The registered manager told us, “We encourage people to make applications to attend education or apply for a job within the prison. We manage the peer program and support the peer workers within the prison, and the support workers play a key role in this too.”

People’s care needs were regularly reviewed to identify any changes so the appropriate support could be found if needed. This included working with the prison officers, and making appropriate referrals as required.

Staff and leaders actively listened to information about people who are most likely to experience inequality in experience or outcomes and tailored their care, support and treatment in response to this. People told us they were consulted in relation to their cultural and spiritual needs.

The provider had an equality and diversity policy in place and worked with the prison system to create an inclusive environment for all individuals and staff, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

People had been consulted in decision making, including whether they preferred to receive care from a male or female care worker and this was respected.

People were supported to plan for important life changes, so they could have enough time to make informed decisions about their future, including at the end of their life.

The provider had an end of life procedures and practice guidance in place. The registered manager had identified end of life as an area within the prisons and healthcare department as ‘work in progress’. They told us, “I believe it is part of the new training plan. It is an area identified as needed and we can see the increase in need and complexity of people. We need to be better equipped.”

End of life training was now included in the mandatory training for Prison Social Care Team staff.

During a senior meeting, we saw the registered manager had raised this issue and told us this was an area they were keen to improve.

At the time of our visit, nobody was receiving end of life care.