Female Forensic Mental Health Services in Scotland John Crichton

Policy Context Scottish Office (1998) Women offenders: A safer way: A review of community disposals and the use of custody for women offenders in Scotland. Edinburgh: Social Work Services Inspectorate Scottish Executive (2002) A better way. Report of the ministerial group on women’s offending Edinburgh: Scottish Executive Scottish Executive (2006) Reducing Reoffending: National Strategy for the Management of Offenders Edinburgh: Scottish Executive Scottish Government (2008) Equally Well: report of the ministerial task force on health inequalities Edinburgh: Scottish Government Scottish Government (2009a) Equal Opportunities Committee Report; SP Paper 332 Edinburgh: Scottish Government Scottish Government (2009b) Safer Lives: Changed Lives A Shared Approach to Tackling Violence Against Women In Scotland Edinburgh: Scottish Government Scottish Prison Service (2010) SPS Strategy Framework for the Management of Women Offenders in Custody Edinburgh: Scottish Prison Service Commission on Women Offenders: Final Report April 2012

Claire Lamza’s MSc 1. Difficulty in finding in-patient places for female forensic patients. 2. Particular difficulty of finding secure beds for anyone not suitable for conditions of special security. 3. The need to manage deliberate self-harm and the sequelae of childhood sexual abuse. 4. The lack of resources to meet these treatment needs. 5. The difficulties of managing men and women in the same environment: the women’s needs are not met and they are seen as disruptive of the overall service. 6. The importance of and the lack of suitable supported community placements.

FORENSIC MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES MANAGED CARE NETWORK REPORT OF THE SERVICES FOR WOMEN WORKING GROUP 2004 Dedicated multidisciplinary teams responsible for providing Forensic Psychiatry Services for Women should be established within local Forensic Services across Scotland. As a minimum there should be at least one such service within each of the 4 regional groupings. These should provide, direct secure and open inpatient care as well as community care. They should also be a source of support and expert advice to other local services. All of Scotland should be covered by such a service.

High secure care Until Secure Services for Women are available Scotland-wide, the Women’s Service at the State Hospital should continue as a high quality service. It should not, in the meantime be run down. Where service improvements are required (for instance development of the rehabilitation service and standard of accommodation) these should be made. Only once there is clearly no need for the service, should it be closed.

Developments closure of high secure female services. Referral pathway now in place to Rampton Two Medium secure sites LD services Rowanbank Low secure patchy with use of private sector

Challenges Remand high secure patients Length of high secure referrals Differences in models of care – seclusion SUS Adapting Orchard Clinic to single sex and pd Follow on care

Further reading A Model and Framework for Working with Women Offenders A multi-faceted partnership approach Kirsty Pate, Women Offender Planning and Development Manager, Lothian and Borders Community Justice Authority © Lothian & Borders Community Justice Authority June 2010