Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance her Department has issued to probation professionals on the steps they should take if someone under post-custodial supervision is found to have previously had an acquired brain injury.

Probation practitioners work in collaboration with the NHS and other relevant agencies, to support anyone under their supervision (including those on community orders or being supervised following release from prison) who has any specific mental health requirement, including people with needs relating to an acquired brain injury. The Probation Service’s has issued a briefing to practitioners that explains acquired brain injury and its possible impacts, as well as giving guidance on how to provide support. An e-learning package on acquired brain injury is also available for probation practitioners.

The contract for Commissioned Rehabilitation Services, which provide tailored support to people under probation supervision, requires suppliers to deliver services in a way which meets the additional and specific needs of anyone with learning difficulties and/or learning disabilities. We intend to include additional requirements in future contracts to require, more specifically, that services should meet the additional and specific needs of people with a neurodivergent condition, including those with acquired brain injuries.