Wetherby Young Offender Institution: Mental Health Services

(asked on 4th March 2021) - View Source

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report by Her Majesty’s Inspector of Prisons, report on a scrutiny visit to HMYOI Wetherby and the Keppel unit, published on 26 February 2021, what steps he plans to take to implement recommendation S6 in that report.


Answered by
Alex Chalk Portrait
Alex Chalk
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
This question was answered on 12th March 2021

Responsibility for commissioning health services in the secure and detained estate, including at HMYOI Wetherby, lies with NHS England and NHS Improvement. Ensuring that the mental health assessment takes place for any children and young people needing transfer under the Mental Health Act 1983 in the children and young people secure estate is the responsibility of the NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) commissioned provider. In parallel, the Youth Custody Service (YCS) has a responsibility to ensure those in the secure estate receive appropriate care in the right setting, at the right time. It is agreed that if children in secure settings are severely ill and need detention under the Mental Health Act 1983, they should be transferred to hospital in a timely way, particularly due to their additional vulnerability in comparison to adults.

NHSE&I will work closely with the National Adolescent Medium Secure Network (AMSN) in ensuring that the transfer and remissions of young people adhere to nationally defined timescales. Ensuring that referral and admissions process remain aligned and that there are appropriate facilities will be central to achieving this.

COVID 19 has had an impact on service provision specifically to the workforce and acuity of young people which has impacted on the ability to accept admissions across the AMSN. This has included the increased need for extra care facilities and complex interventions.

The majority of transfers of children to hospital from the secure estate, where this is needed, happen smoothly. Delays to transfers are often due to the need for specialist accommodations and appropriate specialist teams to meet the needs of young people presenting with complex needs.

More widely the Youth Custody Service is working with the NHSE&I to strengthen the provision of mental health care across the youth estate, to ensure that support and challenge can be directed as needed.

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