DIP Clinic 6 th July 2010 Jackie Roberts WM IDTS RDM National Treatment Agency

CARATS Release Planning Whats the purpose? What should the plan include? Whos involved?

Looking backwards & forwards.. Physical and Mental Health Employment and Education Immediate risks and needs Treatment in the Past Personal and Social Needs History of Drug Use

Priorities IPPs (Imprisonment Public Protection) PPOs (Prolific and Priority Offenders) Women

Release Planning by the book Goal of any intervention is: successful reintegration of the prisoner 6 weeks before Inform CJITS Smooth transition between treatment services – custody to community Involve the CJIT where appropriate Release Plan reviews in conjunction with CJIT

Release planning by the book…. CARATs will have a facilitative role) in ensuring the prisoners drug misuse is linked to the wider resettlement agenda Harm Reduction In addition to completing a release plan CARAT workers have responsibility for relaying and/or re-iterating harm reduction messages, including the risk of overdose on release. The Release Plan should be drawn up with the prisoner and should summarise the prisoners drug use prior to CARATs intervention, the progress made in prison, what the main issues are that should be addressed outside prison and the arrangements made with a community drug agency to continue treatment post-release. For remand/short, term prisoners the SMTA should feed into a basic Release Plan. Release plans can only be issued to those bodies/individuals to which the prisoner has given their formal consent.

Release Planning by the book.. Release is a critical phase and part of release planning should include assessment of the need for immediate support on release. It is the joint responsibility of CARATs and CJIT to facilitate the best option for the individual: Do they require in-reach contact? Do they need meeting at the prison gate? Do they require ongoing clinical services? What special consideration will be needed for those being released a great distance from home? Release planning has been incorporated into the care plan. CJITs have been informed. Consideration has been given to family involvement? CARAT workers have made use of Visitor centres where appropriate. A release plan has been drawn up. Healthcare has been consulted with. Links have been made to other resettlement agencies in prisons.

Plans… (Care, Transfer, RELEASE)

Completed Objectives v Outstanding Issues

Handover to Community … This is essential in order to: Maximise the treatment gains made in prison; Provide opportunities to access services in circumstances where the sentence was too short for intervention in prison; Ensure continuity of treatment and reduce the risk of relapse; Reduce the risk of overdose inherent in a return to the use of street drugs after a period of abstinence.