Freedom of Information Request - Mental Health Service Improv

Summary

A request for documentation on mental health services in the Isle of Man Prison between 2019 and 2025 was partially refused because the Department of Home Affairs does not hold specific mental health policies or staffing data, noting that existing custody forms do not define service users as having mental health issues.

Key Facts

• The Department of Home Affairs confirmed the Prison holds no specific documents or policies relating directly to mental health.
• Existing policies such as ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) address self-harm and behavior but do not define users as suffering from mental health issues.
• No prison officers are recruited solely for the purpose of mental health care.
• The authority stated it could not locate some requested information after taking reasonable steps.
• The response indicates that some parts of the request will be partially exempt.

Data Disclosed

• 1 January 2019
• 1 September 2025
• 2 September 2025
• 1 October 2025
• 4909661
• IM2 5AP
• (01624) 687017

Exemptions Cited

• Information not held
• Partial exemption (specific legal grounds not detailed in the provided text)

Original Request

To Whom It May Concern, Under the Freedom of Information Act 2015, I am formally requesting access to documentation and data relating to the development, implementation, and evaluation of mental health services within the Isle of Man Prison between 1 January 2019 and 1 September 2025. This request is made in the clear and compelling public interest. The provision of adequate mental health care in custodial settings is not only a matter of ethical responsibility'it is a legal and human rights obligation. Transparency in this area is vital to ensuring that vulnerable individuals are treated with dignity, that public funds are used effectively, and that institutional practices align with contemporary standards of care. Specifically, I am seeking: 1. **Strategic Plans, Policy Documents, and Internal Communications** outlining any initiatives, reforms, or service expansions related to inmate mental health. 2. **Annual Reports, Audits, or Evaluations** assessing the effectiveness, accessibility, and outcomes of mental health services. 3. **Staffing Data**, including recruitment, training programs, qualifications, and retention of personnel assigned to mental health care. 4. **Partnership Agreements or Correspondence** with external mental health providers, charities, or agencies. 5. **Statistical Data** on service usage, referrals, incidents involving mental health crises, and any performance indicators used to measure improvement. If any part of this request is subject to exemption under the Act, I request that you provide a detailed justification and release all remaining disclosable information. I am happy to receive the material in electronic format. The public has a right to understand how mental health care is evolving within the prison system'particularly in light of growing awareness around trauma, rehabilitation, and the long-term societal impact of incarceration. This request seeks to contribute to that understanding. Yours sincerely,

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Coordinator DHA Headquarters Tromode Road, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM2 5AP

Telephone: (01624) 687017 Web address: www.gov.im/dha
Email: DPO-DHA@dha.gov.im

Our ref: 4909661 1 October 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 2 September 2025, which states:

"To Whom It May Concern,

Under the Freedom of Information Act 2015, I am formally requesting access to documentation and data relating to the development, implementation, and evaluation of mental health services within the Isle of Man Prison between 1 January 2019 and 1 September 2025.

This request is made in the clear and compelling public interest. The provision of adequate mental health care in custodial settings is not only a matter of ethical responsibility'it is a legal and human rights obligation. Transparency in this area is vital to ensuring that vulnerable individuals are treated with dignity, that public funds are used effectively, and that institutional practices align with contemporary standards of care.

Specifically, I am seeking:

1. Strategic Plans, Policy Documents, and Internal Communications outlining any initiatives, reforms, or service expansions related to inmate mental health.

2. Annual Reports, Audits, or Evaluations assessing the effectiveness, accessibility, and outcomes of mental health services.

3. Staffing Data, including recruitment, training programs, qualifications, and retention of personnel assigned to mental health care.

4. Partnership Agreements or Correspondence with external mental health providers, charities, or agencies.

5. Statistical Data on service usage, referrals, incidents involving mental health crises, and any performance indicators used to measure improvement.

If any part of this request is subject to exemption under the Act, I request that you provide a detailed justification and release all remaining disclosable information. I am happy to receive the material in electronic format.

The public has a right to understand how mental health care is evolving within the prison system'particularly in light of growing awareness around trauma, rehabilitation, and the long-term societal impact of incarceration. This request seeks to contribute to that understanding.

Yours sincerely,"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold some of the information you have requested, or cannot, after taking reasonable steps, locate it. Additionally, we will have to partially exempt some of your request and as such I have split your request into two different sections these being the information not held and the information exempt:

Information Not held:

1) Strategic Plans, Policy Documents, and Internal Communications.
The Department can confirm that the Prison have no specific documents or policies that relate directly to mental health. The Department does have safer custody, complex cases, ACCT (Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork) these are forms or policies that review the consequences of someone suffering with mental health related issues such as self-harm or poor behaviour etc. The Department has confirmed that this does not define the service user as suffering with mental health issues.

3) Staffing Data The Department have confirmed that no prison officers are recruited solely for the purpose of mental health care, this is facilitated by Manx Care.

4) Partnership Agreements or correspondence The Department has confirmed all Partnership agreements and all correspondence relating to Partnership Agreements are held or facilitated by Manx Care.

Information Exempt:

5) Statistical Data
The department will be unable to fulfil this portion of the request as it would require the prison to undertake substantial collation of information that it holds FOIA 8(3)(c). The Department can confirm that the Prison hold individual reports related to any incidents that have occurred These are raw information reports from an individual staff members perspective of an incident. These are not categorised to specific incidents. In the past year alone, the Prison have created 308 of these reports.

Under our duty to Advise and Assist Manx care may be able to offer additional information to questions 2) 3) and 4), a request can be submitted here.

Regarding question 2) Annual Reports, Audits or Evaluations The HMIP (His Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons) and PPO (Prisons & Probation Ombudsman) reports are readily available in the public domain along with additional responses and reports by the prison which can be found here. These reports include PPO reports and responses, and reports from HMIP. Any additional Reports, Audits or Evaluations may be held by Manx Care.

Please quote the reference number 4909661 in any future communications.

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.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. 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 2015; 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. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im.

Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.