Criminal justice mental health service works to stop repeat offending in Shropshire
A mental health service is continuing to work with vulnerable people in the criminal justice system to help reform and change lives amid the pandemic.
The Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Liaison and Diversion service aims to address people’s mental health, learning disability and substance misuse vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the youth and adult justice system – irrelevant of guilt.
With bases at Malinsgate Police Station and the magistrates court in Telford as well as at Monkmoor Police Station and the Clee Building in Shrewsbury, practitioners assess people in order to decide what support they need and refer them to the relevant department.
Funded by the Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and founded in 2019, the team consists of registered nurses, support time and recovery workers and administrative staff working alongside West Mercia Police.
Stacey Wood, team leader, said coronavirus had led to an increase in referrals, and she wanted to let people know there were services working to mitigate the issues that bring people into the criminal justice system.
"Initially due to lockdown, the demand on our service was reduced as the way they were dealing with arrests and custody had slowed down," she said.
"We've stayed on site at the stations and with regards to the effects of the pandemic on mental health, we then saw our referral rates increase.
"There are well-documented high levels of health and care needs within youth and adult offender populations, with the prevalence higher than in the general population.
"By addressing people’s mental health, learning disability and/or substance misuse vulnerabilities when they first come into contact with the youth and adult justice systems, it is expected that offending behaviours will be addressed, contributing to reductions in future arrests and in the use of police and court time.
"The liaison and diversion service can be used by any individual within a criminal justice system – most commonly police custody and the courts. Some of those people we see in court and custody are also supported by our outreach service."
Every female and young person that enters the criminal justice system is offered the support, with external referrals also making up the service's clientèle.
Stacey said: "Our referrals are received from professionals who work within the criminal justice agency setting. This includes custody staff, custody healthcare professionals, substance misuse services, concerned or interested persons and self-referral. We also accept referrals for assessment from outside agencies that maybe involved in the care of the person in custody and are aware of them being in the custody setting.
"Anyone is able to access our service, there is no age restriction. The individual to be assessed must be in police custody/court or attend one of our assessment clinics as arranged while in custody/court."
The service has also launched a video detailing how it works.
