Title: Models of social care provision and prison: Preparatory work for a mixed methods study
Funder: Department of Health and Social Care

Abstract: Background Against a background of concern about a lack of social care in prisons, the introduction of the 2014 Care Act clarified the responsibility of local authorities for the social care needs of people in custody and on release. However, whilst high levels of social care need have been found in the prison population (particularly amongst prisoners aged 50 and over and younger prisoners with accompanying mental health, learning or social communication difficulties), there has been remarkably little research on the best way to meet these. In the absence of this, significant variation has been reported in the emerging service delivery models and the number of people deemed to have eligible needs. We intend to prepare a programme grant (PG) application to address these issues through the development, delivery and evaluation of models of social care to meet the needs of prisoners following remission to prison and later release into the community. Before this work can be undertaken however some preparatory stages are required which are described in this development grant (PDG) application. Objectives Build the research team and required collaborations, Develop understanding of the important social care practice issues and challenges, the wider context, system properties and the potential for change, Identify the potential outcome measures to be used in the subsequent PG, Establish what routinely collected data is available in the proposed study sites, Synthesise the existing evidence on the provision of social care for people in custody, Extend our existing review for people on release to incorporate relevant learning from studies of other client groups Methods Team Strengthening and Collaboration Building This work package (WP) will build on our existing expertise through the fostering of collaborative networks and further training. It will also involve the recruitment of two groups, an advisory group and expert reference group, including experts by lived experience, who will be consulted throughout the project. Methodological Work The focus of this WP is on the use of a consensus approach to identify appropriate core outcome measures for prisoners on remission and later release, and then a review of data that is currently routinely collected on a national level. Evidence Synthesis The final WP will comprise a realist review and synthesis that will allow us to build on existing knowledge to develop an appropriate program theory to meet social care needs throughout the criminal justice system. This PDG will provide a strong foundation for the proposed PG which will: Develop, pilot, trial and establish the cost effectiveness of a service delivery model for the provision of social care in prison, Develop a flexible service delivery model for the provision of social care for people released from prison that is ready for pilot testing with a longitudinal study Conclusion Improved social care will allow individuals to better engage with the prison regime and with society on release with benefits in terms of support and social engagement for individual prisoners, their families and ultimately wider society.

Lay abstract: Little is known about the social care needs of people living in prison. In the past, people had not been sure who was responsible for assessing and supporting people in prison with their social care needs (such as washing, dressing, and eating). The law changed in 2014 to make it clear that this was the job of local authorities. We need to find out how local authorities, peers, families, and other services can work together to support people living in prison with social care needs. We want to carry out a large piece of work in this area. We want to identify the best way to support people with social care needs in prison and then test out this plan. We will look at how well this plan supports people in prison and how much it costs. We also want to look at the social care needs people have when they are released from prison into the community so that we can think about how best to support them too. This information will help us to build our plan to carry out this work. We are also keen that we involve people with lived experience in prison as much as possible throughout this work. We think we will be able to do this large piece of work better if we find out some information before we get started. So firstly, we plan to make sure we find the best research team to do this work. This includes making sure we involve people who have experienced prison - either directly as researchers (with support and training) or as members of an expert reference group to provide advice throughout the project. We will identify appropriate training for all members of the research team. Secondly, we want to look at the research literature and speak to professionals and experts by experience to find out how to measure how well the plan for social care in prison and on release works. Thirdly, we will find out what data is already collected about social care in prison and on release. Fourthly, we will look at the literature to find out how to make the plan for supporting people as good as possible. By the end of this initial development project we will have a well-trained group of researchers, including experts by experience, with a good knowledge of the existing research literature, current social care practice in prisons and appropriate effectiveness. We will then be better placed to plan for and apply for further funding to carry out a larger piece of work where we develop and test models of social care delivery for prisoners and people following release from prison.

Research activity codes: 8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
Health categories: GENERIC HEALTH RELEVANCE