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Challenging the Inequalities of Individuals with Learning Disabilities in Prison .

Challenging the Inequalities of Individuals with Learning Disabilities in Prison. Lynsey Brown. Staff Nurse. Calderstones NHS Trust Forensic Support Service 2014. “I’m nervous.......but honoured to be here!” Thank You.

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Challenging the Inequalities of Individuals with Learning Disabilities in Prison .

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  1. Challenging the Inequalities of Individuals with Learning Disabilities in Prison. Lynsey Brown. Staff Nurse. Calderstones NHS Trust Forensic Support Service 2014

  2. “I’m nervous.......but honoured to be here!”Thank You. “Never lose an opportunity of urging a practical beginning, however small, for it is wonderful how often in such matters the mustard-seed germinates and roots itself”. Florence Nightingale.

  3. How did it all start? • 6 Month pilot project • Funding achieved through bid for CEO monies • Joined on 6 month secondment • Links already established through Forensic Support Service Inputalready ongoing in two of the three selected prisons.

  4. The initial aim of the 6 month project. Improve the identification of prisoners with learning disabilities Take Care into Custody Learning Disability Awareness through Staff Training. Provide signposts and pathways to support a possible return to local communities. Aim to reduce chances of reoffending

  5. The Prisons. • HMP Styal. • HMP Wymott. • HMP Preston. Each Prison Unique in it’s Establishment and Population.

  6. Barriers. • Getting people on board. • Prison Skin. • Bringing Care into Custody. • Disciplines work in Silo’s. • Limited insight into Learning Disabilities. • Time and Money.

  7. LD Numbers in prison.(Not Including The Hidden Population). • 7% of adult prisoners have an IQ of less than 70 and a further 25% have an IQ between 70-79. • it is generally acknowledged that between 5 and 10% of the adult offender population has aLearning Disability. A Growing Population. Around a quarter of children who offend have an IQ of less than 70. (Jenny Talbot, Prison Reform Trust 2010).

  8. Death in Custody.23 year old male prisoner died from hanging which caused his death, and was contributed to by neglect .“One of the saddest reports I have ever issued as Ombudsman”(Stephen Shaw CBE, 2010).

  9. What Inequalities?

  10. Inequalities in Health Care.“I felt poorly without my meds. I forgot to tell them I would be back at teatime to take them, so they wouldn’t let me have them”

  11. Reducing Inequalities. • Staff Training in Screening for Learning Disabilities. • Design and Introduction of Health Action Plans • Recommended Annual Health Checks • Easy read Medication charts • Ensured all professionals involved were aware of Health Issues. • Awareness of Dangers Diagnostic Overshadowing. Learning Disabilities must be looked at as separate from Mental Health Problems. (Lord Bradley 2009)

  12. Inequalities Accessing Services.80% of people with a learning disability in prison have reported that they have difficulties in accessing information.(Prison Reform Trust 2011). “I can’t read the App form. I have a Buddy, but I have to give them my fags or they won’t help me”

  13. Reducing Inequalities. Ensuring Support with Completing Apps. Design and Implementation of Easy read Information Advising Senior Management . Support with Reading

  14. Inequalities In Time Served. “There is general recognition that prisoners undertaking programmes to complete their sentence would need a minimum IQ of 80.” (Mencap 2012)

  15. Reducing Inequalities. • MDT Liaison to Ensure Fair Access to Education. • Advice on Suitable Training. • Created Sign Posts and Pathways for Release. • Highlight Legal Duties and Ethical Responsibilities to Prison Professionals.

  16. Inequalities That Lead to Isolation.The Prison reform Trust (2010) found that 31% of prisoners with learning disabilities or difficulties are more likely to be alone in their cell during the day than offenders without learning disabilities. “I stay in my cell, it’s safer. Some of girls call me a retard and make me do thing’s I don’t want to”.

  17. Reducing Inequalities. • Seek and Encourage Appropriate Buddying. • Weekly Face to Face Meeting with Prisoner. • Assist to find Prison Employment. • Help Apply for Visits and Phone calls with Family. • Encourage Appropriate and Safe Integration.

  18. Inequality Understanding the Rules and Regimes.“Offenders with a learning disability are five times more likely than the non learning disabled offender population to have control and restraint techniques used on them and three times as likely to have spent time in segregation” (Prison Reform Trust, 2011). “I get into trouble a lot cause I’m always late and go to the wrong place, I can’t remember things they tell me”

  19. Reducing Inequalities. Encourage Other Disciplines to Adopt Principles of the Six C’s Within Their Work. Staff Training and Supervision. Particularly with Regards to Individual’s Barriers to Communication. Share Forensic Experience and Knowledge. Movement of Prisoner to Safer Accommodation. Specific Self Harm Training.

  20. “Your Job is not to Judge.Your Job is Not to Figure out if Someone Deserves Something.Your Job is to Lift the Fallen,To Restore the Broken,And to Heal the Hurting”.(Unknown).

  21. Thank You for your listening........

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