Recommendations | Mental health of adults in contact with the criminal justice system | Guidance

1.1 Using this guideline together with other NICE guidelines

1.1.1

Use this guideline with any NICE guidelines on specific mental health problems. This guideline covers the full range of mental health problems including common mental disorders, substance misuse disorders, neurodevelopmental disorders and personality disorders. Take into account:

the nature and severity of any mental health problem
the presence of a learning disability or any acquired cognitive impairment
the nature of any coexisting mental health problems (including substance misuse)
limitations on prescribing and administering medicine (for example, in-possession medicine) or the timing of the delivery of interventions in certain settings (for example, prison)
the development of trust in an environment where health and care staff may be held in suspicion
any differences in presentation of mental health problems
the setting in which the assessment or treatment takes place.

1.1.2

Obtain, evaluate and integrate all available and reliable information about the person when assessing or treating people in contact with the criminal justice system. For example:

person escort record (PER)
pre-sentence report
all medical records
custody reports
Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) document
reports from other relevant services, including liaison and diversion, substance misuse services, social service or housing services and youth offending services
Offender Assessment System (OASys) or other assessment tools.

Take into account how up to date the information is and how it was gathered.

1.2 Principles of assessment

1.2.1

Work with a family member, partner, carer, advocate or legal representative when possible in order to get relevant information and support the person, help explain the outcome of assessment and help them make informed decisions about their care. Take into account:

the person's wishes
the nature and quality of family relationships, including any safeguarding issues
any statutory or legal considerations that may limit family and carer involvement
the requirements of the Care Act 2014.

1.3 Identification and assessment throughout the care pathway

1.3.1

Be vigilant for the possibility of unidentified or emerging mental health problems in people in contact with the criminal justice system, and review available records for any indications of a mental health problem.

1.3.2

Ensure all staff working in criminal justice settings are aware of the potential impact on a person's mental health of being in contact with the criminal justice system.

First-stage health assessment at reception into prison

Recommendations 1.3.3 to 1.3.5 cover what happens when a person first arrives into prison, and are taken from the NICE guideline on physical health of people in prison. They refer to the first-stage health assessment, which is a combined physical and mental health assessment. A second-stage mental health assessment in prison should normally be done within 7 days.

There is also a downloadable version of the first stage health assessment table as shown in table 1.

1.3.3

At first reception into prison, a healthcare professional (or trained healthcare assistant under the supervision of a registered nurse) should carry out a health assessment for every person. Do this before the person is allocated to their cell. As part of the assessment, identify:

any issues that may affect the person's immediate health and safety before the second-stage health assessment
priority health needs to be addressed at the next clinical opportunity.

1.3.4

Ensure continuity of care for people transferring from one custodial setting to another (including court, the receiving prison or during escort periods) by, for example:

accessing relevant information from the patient clinical record, prisoner escort record and cell sharing risk assessment
checking medicines and any outstanding medical appointments.

1.3.5

The first-stage health assessment should include the questions and actions in table 1. It should cover:

physical health
alcohol use
substance misuse
mental health
self-harm and suicide risk.

**Table 1 Questions for first-stage prison health assessment**
–	Topic questions	Actions
Prison sentence	1. Has the person committed murder, manslaughter or another offence with a long sentence?	Yes: refer the person for mental health assessment by the prison mental health in-reach team if necessary. No: record no action needed.
Prescribed medicines	2. Is the person taking any prescribed medicines (for example, insulin) or over-the-counter medicines (such as creams or drops)? If so: what are they what are they for how do they take them?	Yes: document any current medicines being taken and generate a medicine chart. Refer the person to the prescriber for appropriate medicines to be prescribed, to ensure continuity of medicines. If medicines are being taken, ensure that the next dose has been provided (see recommendations 1.7.10 and 1.7.11 in the NICE guideline on physical health of people in prison). Let the person know that medicines reconciliation will take place before the second-stage health assessment. No: record no action needed.
Physical injuries	3. Has the person received any physical injuries over the past few days, and if so: what were they how were they treated?	Yes: assess severity of injury, any treatment received and record any significant head, abdominal injuries or fractures. Document any bruises or lacerations observed on a body map. In very severe cases, or after GP assessment, the person may need to be transferred to an external hospital. Liaise with prison staff to transfer the person to the hospital emergency department by ambulance. If the person has made any allegations of assault, record negative observations as well (for example, 'no physical evidence of injury'). No: record no action needed.
Other health conditions	4. Does the person have any of the following: allergies, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy or history of seizures chest pain, heart disease chronic obstructive pulmonary disease tuberculosis, sickle cell disease hepatitis B or C virus, HIV, other sexually transmitted infections learning disabilities neurodevelopmental disorders physical disabilities?	Yes: make short notes on any details of the person's condition or management; for example, 'Asthma – on Ventolin 1 puff daily'. Make appointments with relevant clinics or specialist nurses if specific needs have been identified. No: record no action needed.
Other health conditions	5. Are there any other health problems the person is aware of that have not been reported?	Yes: record the details and check with the person that no other physical health complaint has been overlooked. No: record no action needed.
Other health conditions	6. Are there any other concerns about the person's health?	Yes: make a note of any other concerns about physical health. This should include any health-related observations about the person's physical appearance (for example, weight, pallor, jaundice, gait or frailty). Refer the person to the GP or relevant clinic. No: note 'Nil'.
Additional questions for women	7. Does the woman have reason to think she is pregnant, or would she like a pregnancy test?	Yes: If the woman is pregnant, refer to the GP and midwife. If there is reason to think the woman is pregnant, or would like a pregnancy test: provide a pregnancy test. Record the outcome. If positive, make an appointment for the woman to see the GP and midwife. No: record response.
Living arrangements, mobility and diet	8. Does the person need help to live independently?	Yes: note any needs. Liaise with the prison disability lead in reception about: the location of the person's cell further disability assessments the prison may need to carry out. No: record response.
Living arrangements, mobility and diet	9. Do they use any equipment or aids (for example, walking stick, hearing aid, glasses, dentures, continence aids or stoma)?	Yes: remind prison staff that all special equipment and aids the person uses should follow them from reception to their cell. No: record response.
Living arrangements, mobility and diet	10. Do they need a special medical diet?	Yes: confirm the need for a special medical diet. Note the medical diet the person needs and send a request to catering. Refer to appropriate clinic for ongoing monitoring. No: record response.
Past or future medical appointments	11. Has the person seen a doctor or other healthcare professional in the past few months? If so, what was this for?	Yes: note details of any recent medical contact. Arrange a contact letter to get further information from the person's doctor or specialist clinic. Note any ongoing treatment the person needs and make appointments with relevant clinics, specialist nurses, GP or other healthcare staff. No: record no action needed.
Past or future medical appointments	12. Does the person have any outstanding medical appointments? If so, who are they with, and when?	Yes: note future appointment dates. Ask healthcare administrative staff to manage these appointments or arrange for new dates and referral letters to be sent if the person's current hospital is out of the local area. No: record no action needed.
Alcohol and substance misuse	13. Does the person drink alcohol, and if so: how much do they normally drink? how much did they drink in the week before coming into custody?	Yes: Urgently refer the person to the GP or an alternative suitable healthcare professional if: they drink more than 15 units of alcohol daily or they are showing signs of withdrawal or they have been given medication for withdrawal in police or court cells. No: record response.
Alcohol and substance misuse	14. Has the person used street drugs in the last month? If so, how frequently? When did they last use: heroin methadone benzodiazepines amphetamine cocaine or crack novel psychoactive substances cannabis anabolic steroids performance and image enhancing drugs?	Yes: refer the person to substance misuse services if there are concerns about their immediate clinical management and they need immediate support. Take into account whether: they have taken drugs intravenously they have a positive urine test for drugs their answers suggest that they use drugs more than once a week they have been given medication for withdrawal in police or court cells. If the person has used intravenous drugs, check them for injection sites. Refer them to substance misuse services if there are concerns about their immediate clinical management and they need immediate support. No: record response.
Problematic use of prescription medicines	15. Has the person used prescription or over-the-counter medicines in the past month: that were not prescribed or recommended for them or for purposes or at doses that were not prescribed? If so, what was the medicine and how did they use it (frequency and dose)?	Yes: refer the person to substance misuse services if there are concerns about their immediate clinical management and they need immediate support. No: record response.
Mental health	16. Has the person ever seen a healthcare professional or service about a mental health problem (including a psychiatrist, GP, psychologist, counsellor, community mental health services, alcohol or substance misuse services or learning disability services)? If so, who did they see and what was the nature of the problem?	Yes: refer the person for a mental health assessment if they have previously seen a mental health professional in any service setting. No: record response.
Mental health	17. Has the person ever been admitted to a psychiatric hospital, and if so: when was their most recent discharge what is the name of the hospital what is the name of their consultant?	Yes: refer the person for a mental health assessment. No: record response.
Mental health	18. Has the person ever been prescribed medicine for any mental health problems? If so: what was the medicine when did they receive it when did they take the last dose what is the current dose (if they are still taking it) when did they stop taking it?	Yes: refer the person for a mental health assessment if they have taken medicine for mental health problems. No: record response.
Self-harm and suicide risk	19. Is the person: feeling hopeless or currently thinking about or planning to harm themselves or attempt suicide?	Yes: refer the person for an urgent mental health assessment. Open an Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) plan if: there are serious concerns raised in response to questions about self-harm, including thoughts, intentions or plans, or observations (for example, the patient is very withdrawn or agitated) or the person has a history of previous suicide attempts. Be aware and record details of the impact of the sentence on the person, changes in legal status and first imprisonment, and the nature of the offence (for example, murder, manslaughter, offence against the person and sexual offences). No: record response.
Self-harm and suicide risk	20. Has the person ever tried to harm themselves, and if so: do they have a history of suicide attempts was this inside or outside prison when was the most recent incident what was the most serious incident?	Yes: refer the person for a mental health assessment if they have ever tried to harm themselves. No: record response.

Identification and assessment throughout the care pathway (including second-stage health assessment in prisons)

Recommendations 1.3.6 to 1.3.8 apply both throughout the care pathway and to the second-stage health assessment in prisons. In non-prison settings, all staff should think about using the Correctional Mental Health Screen tool (see recommendation 1.3.6).

1.3.6

Consider using the Correctional Mental Health Screen for Men (CMHS-M) or Women (CMHS-W) to identify possible mental health problems if:

the person's history, presentation or behaviour suggest they may have a mental health problem
the person's responses to the first-stage health assessment suggest they may have a mental health problem
the person has a chronic physical health problem with associated functional impairment
concerns have been raised by other agencies about the person's abilities to participate in the criminal justice process.

1.3.7

When using the CMHS‑M or CMHS‑W with a transgender person, use the measure that is in line with their preferred gender identity.

1.3.8

If a man scores 6 or more on the CMHS‑M, or a woman scores 4 or more on the CMHS‑W, or there is other evidence supporting the likelihood of mental health problems, practitioners should:

conduct a further assessment if they are competent to perform assessments of mental health problems or
refer the person to an appropriately trained professional for further assessment if they are not competent to perform such assessments themselves.

Carrying out a mental health assessment

1.3.9

Service providers should ensure that competent practitioners who have experience of working with people in contact with the criminal justice system with mental health problems:

perform the mental health assessment
coordinate the input of other professionals into the assessment when needed.

1.3.10

If there are concerns about a person's mental capacity, practitioners should perform a mental capacity assessment if they are competent to do this (or refer the person to a practitioner who is).

1.3.11

All practitioners should ensure mental health assessment is a collaborative process that:

makes the most of the contribution of everyone involved, including the person, those providing care or legal advice and family members and carers
engages the person in an informed discussion of treatment, support and care options.

1.3.12

Ensure all practitioners carrying out mental health assessments are competent to assess problems that commonly present, with an understanding of the context and setting in which they are done. They should:

tailor the content, structure and pace of an assessment to the person's needs and adjust the assessment as new information emerges
have knowledge and awareness of diagnostic classification systems and their limitations
appraise the reliability and validity of all available health and criminal justice systems records
identify and take into account the reasons for any significant differences between the assessor's views and those of the person and other agencies involved in their care
use validated tools relevant to the disorders or problems being assessed
take into account the views of practitioners from other services involved in the person's care.

1.3.13

All practitioners carrying out mental health assessment should take into account the following when conducting an assessment of suspected mental health problems for people in contact with the criminal justice system:

the nature and severity of the presenting mental health problems (including cognitive functioning) and their development and history
coexisting mental health problems
coexisting substance misuse problems, including novel psychoactive substances
coexisting physical health problems
social and personal circumstances, including personal experience of trauma
social care, educational and occupational needs
people's strengths
available support networks, and the person's capacity to make use of them
previous care, support and treatment, including how the person responded to these
offending history and how this may interact with mental health problems.

1.3.14

When assessing people in contact with the criminal justice system all practitioners should:

recognise potential barriers to accessing and engaging in interventions and methods to overcome these at the individual and service level
be aware that people may have negative expectations based on earlier experiences with mental health services, the criminal justice system, or other relevant services.

1.3.15

All practitioners should share the outcomes of a mental health assessment, in accordance with legislation and local policies, subject to permission from the person where necessary, with:

the person and, if possible, their family members or carers
all staff and agencies (for example, probation service providers and secondary care mental health services) involved in the direct development and implementation of the plan
other staff or agencies (as needed) not directly involved in the development and implementation of the plan who could support the effective implementation and delivery of the plan.

Reviewing the mental health assessment

1.3.16

Practitioners should review and update mental health assessments:

if new information is available about the person's mental health problem
if there are significant differences between the views of the person and the views of the family, carers or staff that cannot be resolved through discussion
when major legal or life events occur
when the person is transferred between, or out of, criminal justice services
if a person experiences a significant change in care or support, for example, stopping an Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) plan
if a person disengages or does not stick to their treatment plan
annually, or as required by local policy such as Care Programme Approach or Care Treatment Plan.

1.3.17

When updating mental health assessments, practitioners should consider:

reviewing and ensuring demographic information is accurate
reviewing psychological, social, safety, personal historical and criminological factors
assessing multiple areas of need, including social and personal circumstances, physical health, occupational rehabilitation, education and previous and current care and support
developing an increased understanding of the function of the offending behaviour and its relationship with mental health problems
covering any areas not fully explored by the initial assessment.

1.4 Risk assessment and management

1.4.1

Perform a risk assessment for all people in contact with the criminal justice system when a mental health problem occurs or is suspected.

1.4.2

All practitioners should take into account the following issues in risk assessments for people in contact with the criminal justice system:

risk to self, including self-harm, suicide, self-neglect, risk to own health and degree of vulnerability to exploitation or victimisation
risk to others that is linked to mental health problems, including aggression, violence, exploitation and sexual offending
causal and maintaining factors
the likelihood, imminence and severity of the risk
the impact of their social and physical environment
protective factors that may reduce risk.

1.4.3

During a risk assessment the practitioner doing the assessment should explain to the person that their behaviours may need to be monitored. This may include:

external monitoring of behaviours that may indicate a risk to self or others
self-monitoring of risk behaviours to help the person to identify, anticipate and prevent high-risk situations.

1.4.4

If indicated by their risk assessment, the practitioner doing the assessment should develop a risk management plan for a person. This should:

integrate with or be consistent with the mental health assessment and plan
take an individualised approach to each person and recognise that risk levels may change over time
set out the interventions to reduce risk at the individual, service or environmental level
take into account any legal or statutory responsibilities which apply in the setting in which they are used
be shared with the person (and their family members or carers if appropriate) and relevant agencies and services subject to permission from the person where necessary
be reviewed regularly by those responsible for implementing the plan and adjusted if risk levels change.

1.4.5

All practitioners should ensure that any risk management plan is:

informed by the assessments and interventions in relevant NICE guidance for the relevant mental health disorders, including the NICE guideline on self-harm: assessment, management and preventing recurrence
implemented in line with agreed protocols for safeguarding vulnerable people and the provision of appropriate adults
implemented in line with agreed protocols in police custody, prisoner escort services, prison, community settings and probation service providers.

1.4.6

Ensure that the risk management plan is integrated with, and recorded in, the relevant information systems; for example, the ACCT procedure in prisons, the Offender Assessment System (OASys) and SystmOne and Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC) and Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA).

1.5 Care planning

1.5.1

Develop a mental healthcare plan in collaboration with the person and, when possible, their family, carers and advocates. All practitioners developing the plan should ensure it is integrated with care plans from other services, and includes:

a profile of the person's needs (including physical health needs), identifying agreed goals and the means to progress towards them
identification of the roles and responsibilities of those practitioners involved in delivering the care plan
the implications of any mandated treatment programmes, post-release licences and transfer between institutions or agencies, in particular release from prison
a clear strategy to access all identified interventions and services
agreed outcome measures and timescale to evaluate and review the plan
a risk management plan and a crisis plan if developed
an agreed process for communicating the care plan (such as the Care Programme Approach or Care Treatment Plan) to all relevant agencies, the person, and their families and carers, subject to permission from the person where necessary.

1.5.2

When developing or implementing a mental healthcare plan all practitioners should take into account:

the ability of the person to take in and remember information
the need to provide extra information and support to help with the understanding and implementation of the care plan
the need for any adjustment to the social or physical environment
the need to adjust the structure, content, duration or frequency of any intervention
the need for any prompts or cognitive aids to help with delivery of the intervention.

1.6 Psychological interventions

Delivering psychological interventions for mental health problems

1.6.1

Refer to relevant NICE guidance for the psychological treatment of mental health problems for adults in contact with the criminal justice system, taking into account the need:

to modify the delivery of psychological interventions in the criminal justice system
to ensure continuity of the psychological intervention (for example, transfer between prison settings or on release from prison)
for staff to be trained and competent in the interventions they are delivering
for supervision
for audit using routinely available outcome measures.

1.6.2

Be aware that many people in contact with the criminal justice system (including people with a diagnosis of personality disorder) may have difficulties with:

accurately interpreting and controlling emotions
impulse control (for example, difficulty planning, seeking high levels of stimulation, ambivalent about consequences of their negative actions)
experiencing themselves as having a lack of autonomy (for example, seeing their actions as pointless, having difficulties in setting and achieving goals)
having an unstable sense of self that varies depending on context or is influenced by the people they interact with
social functioning (for example, relating to, cooperating with and forming relationships with others, difficulties understanding their own and others' needs)
occupational functioning.

Personality disorder

1.6.3

Providers of services should ensure staff are able to identify common features and behaviours associated with personality disorders and use these to inform the development of programmes of care.

1.6.4

Practitioners should ensure interventions for people with a diagnosis of personality disorder or associated problems are supportive, facilitate learning and develop new behaviours and coping strategies in the following areas:

problem solving
emotion regulation and impulse control
managing interpersonal relationships
self-harm
use of medicine (including reducing polypharmacy).

1.6.5

Practitioners should be aware when delivering interventions for people with mental health problems that having a personality disorder or an associated problem may reduce the effectiveness of interventions. Think about:

providing additional support
adjusting the duration and intensity of psychological interventions if standard protocols have not worked
delivering complex interventions in a multidisciplinary context.

1.6.6

Practitioners should not exclude people with personality disorders from any health or social care service, or intervention for comorbid disorders, as a direct result of their diagnosis.

Specific psychological interventions

1.6.7

Practitioners should consider using contingency management to reduce drug misuse and promote engagement with services for people with substance misuse problems.

1.6.8

Practitioners delivering contingency management programmes should:

agree with the person the behaviour that is the target of change
provide incentives in a timely and consistent manner
confirm the person understands the relationship between the treatment goal and the incentive schedule
make incentives reinforcing and supportive of a healthy and drug-free lifestyle.

1.6.9

Practitioners should consider referral to a therapeutic community specifically for substance misuse for people in prison with a minimum 18‑month sentence who have an established pattern of drug misuse.

1.6.10

When setting up therapeutic community programmes in prison settings in a separate wing of a prison for people with substance misuse problems, aim to:

include up to 50 prisoners in the programme
provide treatment for between 12 and 18 months, made up of:
- twice-weekly group therapy sessions (mean group size of 8)
- daily (5 days only) community meeting for all wing residents
- daily (5 days only) social activity groups for all wing residents
- a once-weekly individual review meeting (20 minutes).

1.6.11

Consider psychological interventions for paraphilias only when delivered as part of a research programme.

1.7 Pharmacological interventions

1.7.1

Refer to relevant NICE guidance for pharmacological interventions for mental health problems in adults in contact with the criminal justice system. Take into account:

risks associated with in-possession medicines
administration times for medication
availability of medicines in the first 48 hours of transfer to prison
availability of medicines after release from prison.

1.7.2

Refer to NICE's guideline on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) when prescribing pharmacological interventions for this condition.

1.7.3

Review all medicines prescribed for sleep problems and the management of chronic pain to:

establish the best course of treatment (seek specialist advice if needed)
assess the risk of diversion or misuse of medicines.

1.8 Organisation of services

Service structures and delivery

1.8.1

Commissioners and providers of criminal justice services and healthcare services should support the development of liaison and diversion functions for police custody and the courts that provide prompt access to the following:

the effective identification and recognition of mental health problems
a comprehensive mental health assessment
advice on immediate care and management
appropriate treatment and care (including medication).

1.8.2

Providers of criminal justice services and healthcare services should consider diverting people from standard courts to dedicated drug courts if the offence is linked to substance misuse and was non-violent.

1.8.3

Commissioners and providers of criminal justice services and healthcare services should consider establishing joint working arrangements between healthcare, social care and police services for managing urgent and emergency mental health presentations in the community (for example, street triage). Include:

joint training for police, healthcare and social care staff
agreed protocols for joint working developed and reviewed by a multi-agency group
agreed protocols for effective communication within and between agencies
agreed referral pathways for urgent and emergency care and routine care.

1.8.4

Commissioners and providers of criminal justice services and healthcare services should ensure effective identification, assessment, coordination and delivery of care for all people with a mental health problem in contact with the criminal justice system. This should include people who are transferring from young offender services and those on probation. In particular, ensure that:

all people with a severe or complex mental health problem have a designated care coordinator
during transitions between services care plans are shared and agreed between all services
effective protocols are in place to support routine data sharing and, when necessary, joint plans of care between health services (including primary and secondary care services) and criminal justice agencies to reduce unnecessary assessments and promote effective interventions.

1.9 Staff training

1.9.1

Commissioners and providers of criminal justice services and healthcare services should ensure that all staff working in the criminal justice system, who provide direct care or supervision, have a comprehensive induction, covering:

the purpose of the service in which they work, and the role and availability of other related local services, including pathways for referral
the roles, responsibilities and processes of criminal justice, health and social care staff
legislation and local policies relevant to their role, for sharing information with others involved in the person's care
protocols for dealing with mental health problems in the criminal justice system (for example, in-possession medicines, side effects, withdrawal)
the importance of clear communication, including avoiding acronyms and using consistent terminology.

1.9.2

Commissioners and providers of criminal justice services and healthcare services should educate all staff about:

the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems and associated behaviours, such as self-harm
the need to avoid judgemental attitudes
the need to avoid using inappropriate terminology.

1.9.3

Provide multidisciplinary and multi-agency training (as part of both induction training and continuing professional development) to increase consistency, understanding of ways of working, and promotion of positive working relationships for all staff who work in the criminal justice system on:

the prevalence of mental health problems in the criminal justice system, and why such problems may bring people into contact with the criminal justice system
the main features of commonly occurring mental health problems seen in the criminal justice system, and the impact these may have on behaviour and compliance with rules and statutory requirements
recognising and responding to mental health problems and communication problems that arise from, or are related to, physical health problems.

1.9.4

Give all staff involved in direct care, training (as part of induction training and continuing professional development) and supervision to support them in:

dealing with critical incidents, including emergency life support
managing stress associated with working in the criminal justice system and how this may affect their interactions with people and their own mental health and wellbeing
the recognition, assessment, treatment and management of self-harm and suicide
de-escalation methods to minimise the use of restrictive interventions
recognition of changes in behaviour, taking into account that these may indicate the onset of, or changes to, mental health problems
knowledge of effective interventions for mental health problems
developing and maintaining safe boundaries and constructive relationships
delivering interventions within the constraints of the criminal justice system (for example, jail craft training, formulation skills).

Terms used in this guideline

Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT)

ACCT is a prisoner-centred, flexible care-planning system which, when used effectively, can reduce risk, primarily of self-harm. The ACCT process is necessarily prescriptive and it is vital that all stages are followed in the timescales prescribed.

Acquired cognitive impairment

Any cognitive impairment that develops after birth, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, and neurodegenerative disorders such as dementia.

Appropriate adult

A person who is responsible for protecting (or 'safeguarding') the rights and welfare of a child or 'mentally vulnerable' adult who is either detained by police or is interviewed under caution voluntarily. The role was created alongside the Police and Criminal Evidence Act (PACE) 1984.

Carer

A person who provides unpaid support to someone who is ill, having trouble coping or who has disabilities.

Contingency management

A set of techniques that focus on the use of reinforcement to change certain specified behaviours. These may include promoting abstinence from drugs (for example, cocaine), reducing drug misuse (for example, illicit drug use by people receiving methadone maintenance treatment), and improving adherence to interventions that can improve physical health outcomes.

Correctional Mental Health Screen for men (CMHS‑M) or women (CMHS‑W)

This is a screening tool that measures acute mental health issues present in people in prison. Questions are answered in a yes or no format, and then rated on a Likert scale from 1 (low risk or need) to 5 (high risk or need), depending on severity.

In-possession medicine

Medicine is said to be held in-possession if a person (usually in a prison or other secure setting) is responsible for holding and taking it themselves.

Jail craft

Learned, knowledgeable work depending on experience and fine judgements in a prison setting – often learned by new staff working in prisons through shadowing and being mentored by experienced staff.

Liaison and diversion service

This is a service that aims to identify people who have mental health problems who come into contact with the criminal justice system before they enter prison. They may be able to liaise and refer people they identify with mental health problems to local services or divert someone out of the criminal justice system, for example by arranging a Mental Health Act assessment. A liaison and diversion service may be in the form of a street triage service or they can be based in police custody suites or the court cells.

Mental health in-reach team

A secondary mental health team based in prisons to support adults in prison. The team will be part of the NHS trust for the area the prison is located. This team may consist of the same types of staff who work in community mental health teams, including community psychiatric nurses, social workers, psychologists, occupational therapists and psychiatrists.

Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA)

These arrangements are designed to protect the public, including previous victims of crime, from serious harm by sexual and violent offenders. They require the local criminal justice agencies and other bodies dealing with offenders to work together in partnership in dealing with these offenders.

Multi-Agency Risk Assessment Conference (MARAC)

This is a monthly meeting where professionals across criminal justice agencies and other bodies dealing with offenders share information on high risk cases of domestic violence and abuse and put in place a risk management plan.

Multidisciplinary

A multidisciplinary team Is a group of experts from different disciplines who each provide specific support to a person, working as a team.

Offender Assessment System (OASys)

This is a risk and needs assessment tool. It identifies and classifies offending related needs, such as a lack of accommodation, poor educational and employment skills, substance misuse, relationship problems, and problems with thinking and attitudes and the risk of harm offenders pose to themselves and others.

Programme of care

This is developed from a comprehensive assessment of a person's needs and sets out how those needs might be met, who is responsible for meeting those needs, and how the programme of care will be evaluated and reviewed.

Street triage

Schemes involving mental health professionals providing on-the-spot support to police officers who are dealing with people with possible mental health problems.

SystmOne

A clinical computer system used widely by healthcare professionals in the UK to manage electronic patient records. SystmOne is the standard system currently used in prisons in England and Wales.