Title: Evaluation of Offender Liaison and Diversion Trial Schemes
Funder: Department of Health (England)

Abstract: Background Many individuals in the CJS have unrecognised health and social care needs (OHRN, 2011). Evidence suggests that Liaison and Diversion (L&D) schemes have benefits for individuals and the criminal justice system (NACRO, 2006). Currently, most L&D services in England are developed and funded locally, resulting in variable quality and missed opportunities for improving mental health outcomes. Aims We propose to evaluate (i) how the newly-developed national L&D model has been implemented; (ii) the effects on areas and individuals arising from this new approach. We aim to assess the extent to which national L&D services: changes assessment practice; facilitates/improves information sharing and multi-agency work; facilitates improved outcomes for individuals (e.g. access to treatment); and contributes to time and cost-savings. Research plan Our approach is multi-method, capturing implementation, process, costs and outcomes. The research will consist of several tasks across three work packages. Throughout, we will work closely with scheme representatives, DH, MoJ, service users and other partners. WP1: All sites will be visited in person by one or more members of the research team to understand how the national model has been implemented, expected and realised impacts on organisations, expected impacts on individuals and costs. We will review local documentation and conduct face-to-face interviews with individuals from organisations involved in design, implementation and operation of the service. We will consult groups representing service users. As well as this work ‘on the ground’ in each site, we will investigate available local data relating to L&D processes, outcomes and costs, as well as data in potential comparator sites. At the end of WP1 we will produce a report containing: (1) early findings from qualitative data collection; (2) detailed proposals for what can feasibly be achieved in the rest of the evaluation; and (3) a possible phase2 impact evaluation. WP2: We will collect quantitative data about L&D processes, impacts on individuals (in trial/comparator sites) and costs. We will conduct a second round of face-to-face interviews and site visits. These will be supplemented by a survey aimed at a wider range of stakeholders in each area. We will conduct interviews with up to 50 service users. Between WP1 and WP2 we will keep in touch with sites by phone to track developments. WP3: We will undertake analysis of the quantitative, qualitative and costs data collected to address the research questions. For the impact analysis we intend to use propensity score matching at the individual level to establish whether L&D services offer benefits at all, and whether there is any differentiation in these benefits depending on the model of L&D service being offered. Research team The evaluation will be conducted by experts in health, criminal justice and evaluation at RAND Europe. Partners at the University of Birmingham will lead on cost-benefit evaluation. ARCS will lead on collection of qualitative data. Experts from the University of Cardiff and CLAHRC for Cambridgeshire & Peterborough will advise the project. All the senior members of the team have previously published or are working on evaluations of complex interventions in criminal justice and related areas. Potential impact Working with offenders with mental health problems is costly as such cases incur both criminal justice and health costs. L&D services have the potential to deliver cost-savings by ensuring greater awareness of individual needs through the system, enabling more effective working with mentally disordered offenders. Moreover, L&D services, by diverting individuals from custody, may reduce the numbers of mentally disordered offenders in the prison system and push policy development in this area, particularly multi-agency working. Throughout the evaluation, we will work interactively with L&D stakeholders to inform organisational learning and identify good practice.


Research activity codes: 6.6 PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIOURAL;8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES
Health categories: MENTAL HEALTH