A national survey of current discharge planning and aftercare arrangement practices for those returned to prison from secure psychiatric services in England and Wales

Background Little is known about the transition process for those returned to prison following treatment in secure psychiatric services. This study is the first internationally to explore the process of discharge/aftercare planning for this population. Aim To identify the current national discha...

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Main Authors: Sarah Leonard, Jana Bowden, Matilda Minchin, Ruth McDonald, Neil Allen, Jane Senior, Jennifer Shaw
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2025-05-01
Series:BJPsych Open
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Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472425000262/type/journal_article
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author Sarah Leonard
Jana Bowden
Matilda Minchin
Ruth McDonald
Neil Allen
Jane Senior
Jennifer Shaw
author_facet Sarah Leonard
Jana Bowden
Matilda Minchin
Ruth McDonald
Neil Allen
Jane Senior
Jennifer Shaw
author_sort Sarah Leonard
collection DOAJ
description Background Little is known about the transition process for those returned to prison following treatment in secure psychiatric services. This study is the first internationally to explore the process of discharge/aftercare planning for this population. Aim To identify the current national discharge and aftercare planning procedures for people returned to prison in England and Wales. Methods A national survey of current service discharge planning and aftercare arrangement practices in low- and medium-secure psychiatric services and prison mental health teams in England and Wales. Results We had a 72% response rate across prison-based and secure mental health services. A summative contents analysis highlighted that outstanding priority areas for improvement, include (a) relationship building to improve communication and understanding between secure psychiatric services, prison mental health services, and the prison estate and (b) significant reform and additional resources to achieve the expected standard of care and to provide people returned to prison with a care package tailored to meet their specific needs. Conclusion Effective care planning and management of return to prison from secure psychiatric services has the potential to improve patient health and well-being in prison and up to and beyond their subsequent prison release, with far-reaching effects on prevention of relapse, hospital readmission, reoffending and other adverse events.
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spelling doaj-art-6c0e8369c1cb4b2ea49a3ec3d9f0ef122025-08-20T02:59:11ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242025-05-011110.1192/bjo.2025.26A national survey of current discharge planning and aftercare arrangement practices for those returned to prison from secure psychiatric services in England and WalesSarah Leonard0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1729-0556Jana Bowden1Matilda Minchin2Ruth McDonald3Neil Allen4Jane Senior5Jennifer Shaw6Centre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester, UKCentre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester, UKCentre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester, UKNIHR ARC NENC Multimorbidity, Ageing and Frailty Theme, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UKCentre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester, UKCentre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester, UKCentre for Mental Health and Safety, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK Background Little is known about the transition process for those returned to prison following treatment in secure psychiatric services. This study is the first internationally to explore the process of discharge/aftercare planning for this population. Aim To identify the current national discharge and aftercare planning procedures for people returned to prison in England and Wales. Methods A national survey of current service discharge planning and aftercare arrangement practices in low- and medium-secure psychiatric services and prison mental health teams in England and Wales. Results We had a 72% response rate across prison-based and secure mental health services. A summative contents analysis highlighted that outstanding priority areas for improvement, include (a) relationship building to improve communication and understanding between secure psychiatric services, prison mental health services, and the prison estate and (b) significant reform and additional resources to achieve the expected standard of care and to provide people returned to prison with a care package tailored to meet their specific needs. Conclusion Effective care planning and management of return to prison from secure psychiatric services has the potential to improve patient health and well-being in prison and up to and beyond their subsequent prison release, with far-reaching effects on prevention of relapse, hospital readmission, reoffending and other adverse events. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472425000262/type/journal_articleMental Health Act 1983secure servicesprison mental health services
spellingShingle Sarah Leonard
Jana Bowden
Matilda Minchin
Ruth McDonald
Neil Allen
Jane Senior
Jennifer Shaw
A national survey of current discharge planning and aftercare arrangement practices for those returned to prison from secure psychiatric services in England and Wales
BJPsych Open
Mental Health Act 1983
secure services
prison mental health services
title A national survey of current discharge planning and aftercare arrangement practices for those returned to prison from secure psychiatric services in England and Wales
title_full A national survey of current discharge planning and aftercare arrangement practices for those returned to prison from secure psychiatric services in England and Wales
title_fullStr A national survey of current discharge planning and aftercare arrangement practices for those returned to prison from secure psychiatric services in England and Wales
title_full_unstemmed A national survey of current discharge planning and aftercare arrangement practices for those returned to prison from secure psychiatric services in England and Wales
title_short A national survey of current discharge planning and aftercare arrangement practices for those returned to prison from secure psychiatric services in England and Wales
title_sort national survey of current discharge planning and aftercare arrangement practices for those returned to prison from secure psychiatric services in england and wales
topic Mental Health Act 1983
secure services
prison mental health services
url https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472425000262/type/journal_article
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