Service available in:
- Liverpool
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Secure Care
Mersey Care is recognised as a lead organisation in the provision of Offender Health services namely prison healthcare as well as community forensic services. The NHS currently delivers 66 per cent of health care services into prisons with local providers typically serving local prisons. NHS England is now re-commissioning prison health care services across a broad landscape of provision ie across prison ‘clusters’ as opposed to single establishments and Mersey Care is developing a programme of expansion in relation to its Offender Health and Community Forensic portfolio.
Currently we provide a range of services into HMP Altcourse and HMP Liverpool, where we provide mental health services in partnership with main provider Spectrum CIC. We also provide specialist Personality Disorder services into HMP Garth in Lancashire.
A range of established community forensic services provide psychological interventions to high risk offenders in the community and consultation services in partnership with local probation trusts. We are working on further developing this specialist offender pathway with partner organisations and commissioners.
There are fewer opportunities to do things in prison. This can affect mental health. Some people might isolate themselves and find it difficult going back into the community. Prison may also lead to people doing less helpful things such as using substances.
Mersey Care’s team of occupational therapist can help people to overcome problems that stop them from doing the things they want and need to do. It can also help people understand why they do unhelpful things and develop alternative activities, roles and strategies. They use activities rather than talking therapy. For example, relaxation techniques, finding new hobbies or budgeting skills.
An occupational therapist will do an assessment questionnaire with people. They will find out people’s needs, strengths, interests, risk factors and environment. They will then work together with people to develop some goals. They will help people develop skills which support them to do helpful things that are meaningful and important, for example, roles, leisure activities, routines both in prison and for release into the community. An occupational therapist will start with a one to one session to assess each patient’s needs. After this the occupational therapist may do some more one to one sessions, suggest some groups or other services. If a patient believes occupational therapy would be helpful, they can speak to the mental health nurse who can make a referral.