Probation’s role in offender mental health
International Journal of Prisoner Health
ISSN: 1744-9200
Article publication date: 12 September 2016
Issue publication date: 12 September 2016
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how the role in offender mental health for the probation service described in policy translates into practice through exploring staff and offenders’ perceptions of this role in one probation trust. In particular, to examine barriers to staff performing their role and ways of overcoming them.
Design/methodology/approach
Qualitative secondary analysis of data from semi-structured interviews with a purposive sample of 11 probation staff and nine offenders using the constant comparative method.
Findings
Both staff and offenders defined probation’s role as identifying and monitoring mental illness amongst offenders, facilitating access to and monitoring offenders’ engagement with health services, and managing risk. Barriers to fulfilling this role included limited training, a lack of formal referral procedures/pathways between probation and health agencies, difficulties in obtaining and administering mental health treatment requirements, problems with inter-agency communication, and gaps in service provision for those with dual diagnosis and personality disorder. Strategies for improvement include improved training, developing a specialist role in probation and formalising partnership arrangements.
Research limitations/implications
Further research is required to explore the transferability of these findings, particularly in the light of the recent probation reforms.
Originality/value
This is the first paper to explore how staff and offenders perceive probation’s role in offender mental health in comparison with the role set out in policy.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This report presents secondary analysis of data from independent research commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) under the Research for Patient Benefit Programme (Grant Number No. PB-PG-0807-14022). The views expressed in this report are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the NHS, the NIHR or the Department of Health. The authors acknowledge the support of the Mental Health Research Network in the primary research study.
Citation
Sirdifield, C. and Owen, S. (2016), "Probation’s role in offender mental health", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 185-199. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-10-2015-0034
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited