Request for Mental Health Screening Policy for ASD at HMP Jurby

Summary

A request was made for mental health screening policies and statistics regarding Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) at HMP Jurby. The Department of Health and Social Care disclosed that no routine screening or specific policies exist for ASD, refused to provide historical prisoner statistics citing lack of data, and supplied the mental health management structure chart.

Key Facts

• The Mental Health Service does not routinely screen for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) within HMP Jurby.
• No specific policies exist for supporting prisoners identified with ASD as the service does not cover this condition.
• Assessments for suspected ASD are only undertaken when aggressive or disruptive behavior is presented.
• Historical data on the number of prisoners identified with ASD between 2012 and 2016 was not held by the department.
• A review of mental health provision in the criminal justice pathway is underway to align with upcoming NICE guidelines.

Data Disclosed

• 22nd January 2017
• 07 March 2017
• January 2012
• August 2016
• March 2017
• Section 11 (3)(a)
• IM74-923i

Exemptions Cited

• Section 11 (3)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (practical refusal reason)

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Health and Social Care

Rheynn Slaynt as Kiarail y Theay

Page 1 of 4 FOIA/DHSC/rvsd/01

Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch Freedom of Information Team Department of Health & Social Care Chief Executive’s Office Crookall House Demesne Road Douglas Isle of Man, IM1 3QA Tel: Email: Website: Date: FOI Reference: (01624) 642621 foi.dhsc@gov.im www.gov.im/dhsc 07 March 2017 IM74-923i Dear
REQUEST UNDER THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2015 (“the Act”) Thank you for your request to the Department of Health and Social Care, dated 22nd January 2017. Your request You asked for: Question 01: “What is DHSC Mental Health policy for screening people who are imprisoned at HMP Jurby upon entering reception for autism spectrum disorders (ASD)? Throughout, by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) I mean all conditions on the autism spectrum, including Asperger’s syndrome?” Question 02: “How many prisoners were received into HMP Jurby for each month between January 2012 and August 2016 who were identified with an ASD?” Question 03: “What policies does Mental Health have for supporting the needs of prisoners identified with ASD? Please provide me with a copy of any relevant policies?” Question 04: “Provide a copy of the Mental Health management structure”

Response to your request We are pleased to be able to provide a response to your request with answers to your questions: Question 01: What is DHSC Mental Health policy for screening people who are imprisoned at HMP Jurby upon entering reception for autism spectrum disorders (ASD)? Throughout, by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) I mean all conditions on the autism spectrum, including Asperger’s syndrome.

Page 2 of 4 FOIA/DHSC/12 In response to Question 01 of your request, the Mental Health Service does not provide a service for Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and does not routinely screen for the disorder within the prison. Therefore, the Department of Health and Social Care does not hold the information you request.
Mental Health are sometimes asked to undertake an assessment when it is suspected that the person is presenting with aggressive or disruptive behaviour which may be linked to ASD, and in those cases an assessment will be undertaken by a psychiatrist. In some cases, particularly those in people with learning disability when a definitive diagnosis is difficult to make, we commission a joint assessment by a psychiatrist specialising in learning disability and a psychologist specialising in learning disability.
Question 02: How many prisoners were received into HMP Jurby for each month between January 2012 and August 2016 who were identified with an ASD? While our aim is to provide information wherever possible, in response to Question 02 of your request, the Department of Health and Social Care does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the specific information to answer your question and we must refuse this request under Section 11 (3)(a) of the Act (practical refusal reason). We suggest that as the Department of Home Affairs are subject to this Act, that you re- submit your request to that department via the on-line portal, this can be found at https://www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-ofinformation/freedom-of- information-request-january-1-2017/
Question 03: What policies does Mental Health have for supporting the needs of prisoners identified with ASD? Please provide me with a copy of any relevant policies? As indicated in the Department’s response for Question 01, the Mental Health Service does not provide a service for ASD, therefore in response to Question 03 there are no policies specifically relating to this.

The Mental Health Service is, however, currently undertaking a review of mental health provision within the criminal justice pathway in-conjunction with the Police, Prison and Probation Services. Any resulting policy will be in line with the National Institute for Health and Care excellence (NICE) guidelines due for publication in March 2017 titled ‘The Mental Health of Adults in Contact with the Criminal Justice System’.

Question 04: Provide a copy of the Mental Health management structure. Please find the Department’s response to Question 04, a copy of Mental Health management structure chart included as Appendix 01. Your right to request a review
If you are unhappy with this response to your Freedom of Information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post to the FOI Co-ordinator, Department of Health & Social Care, Chief Executive’s Officer, Crookall House, Demesne Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 3QA.

Page 3 of 4 FOIA/DHSC/12 An electronic version and paper version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website www.gov.im/about-the-government/freedom-of-information/how-to-make-a- freedom-of-information-request/ . Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.
If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on:

1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act; or
2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
   In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision.
   Further information about Freedom of Information requests can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at: www.inforights.im/information-centre/freedom-of-information. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact us. Yours Sincerely

Freedom of Information Team Department of Health and Social Care

Page 4 of 4 FOIA/DHSC/12 Appendix 01: Mental Health management structure