Title: Women’s Social Care in Prison: Identifying needs and an appropriate service response
Funder: Department of Health and Social Care

Abstract: Background Local authorities have responsibility for identifying and assessing prisoners social care needs and providing support. This research team have examined the social care needs of imprisoned men but there is no comparable evidence for imprisoned women, a particularly vulnerable group. Their social care needs are different from, and more complex than, those of non-imprisoned women and imprisoned men. Aims and Objectives The study will provide a comprehensive evidence framework to inform the provision of social care for imprisoned women which will be of utility to service commissioners, providers, and frontline staff. It will: 1. Identify the nature and extent of imprisoned women s social care needs including any unmet needs; 2. Scope the arrangements local authorities and their prison, probation and healthcare partners have in place to meet their responsibilities to provide for these needs; 3. Develop an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches, the barriers to the provision of appropriate social care, and potential ways of mitigating these; 4. Identify the nature, extent and indicative costs of the social care and support required; 5. Describe and disseminate the key features of effective social care provision for women in prison. Methods This is a mixed-methods study with four Work Packages (WPs): WP1: Prevalence study. We will interview 247 adult women in four prisons to identify and assess their social care needs using validated instruments. WP2: Surveys of local authorities, prison governors and healthcare managers. We will conduct an online survey of the 12 women s prisons in England and their corresponding local authorities to establish how they address their responsibilities for women with social care needs. WP3: Best practice case studies. Participants will be recruited from four local authorities implementing different models of social care. We will interview women with social care needs; social care practitioners; commissioners; prison custody, health and social care staff; and probation staff to establish views on current and optimum social care provision. WP4: Modified balance of care (BoC) study. We will use a modified BoC approach to identify the nature, extent and indicative costs of the social care services needed by imprisoned women. This approach incorporates existing local data, research findings, service user and practitioner judgements. Anticipated Impact and Dissemination By providing detailed information on the nature and extent of social care needs, and bringing together key organisations and service users to identify how best to meet these, this study will inform the development of services, enabling women to make the most of their time in prison, maintain their safety and dignity and leave prison better equipped to manage in wider society. This will benefit their wellbeing and that of their families and community, as unmet health and social care needs contribute to reoffending risk. We will publish in peer-reviewed journals, present findings at conferences, and use social media and infographics to disseminate our findings nationally and internationally. We will inform policy makers and commissioners and ensure integration with existing policy initiatives. Workshops with professionals will ensure findings are incorporated into practice.

Lay abstract: The aim of social care is to help people meet their needs to support their well-being. This might include help with washing, dressing, family relationships, work/training. Women need specific types of social care that consider their gender, circumstances and vulnerability to abuse and neglect. The level of social care needs in prisons is increasing but the provision is variable and in places lacking. The Care Act 2014 made it clear that local authorities with prisons within their boundaries are responsible for assessing imprisoned people with social care needs, and for providing support. Authorities are also responsible for people with social care needs if they come into their area on release from prison. Research on imprisoned men showed that many had social care needs affecting their day-to-day functioning and would benefit from support to enable them to make the best use of their time in prison, maintain their safety and dignity and leave prison equipped to manage in wider society. However, there has been little research on imprisoned women s social care needs. This research will provide local authorities with information to help them develop and deliver social care for imprisoned women, including information on the nature of their social care needs and the range and cost of the services they require. It will inform local and national service planning, facilitate the development of better social care services for imprisoned women and improve important outcomes such as their independence, wellbeing, rehabilitation and risk of re-offending. The study has four work packages(WP). WP1 will scope prisoners social care needs by interviewing 350 women in four prisons in England. In WP2, the study team will conduct a national survey of local authorities in England to examine their arrangements to meet their responsibilities for imprisoned women, including how they identify those with social care needs, deliver assessments, develop care plans and provide services. WP3 will involve interviews with a wide range of social care and prison practitioners and service users/ex-users to develop an understanding of good practice and of problems arising when providing social care for imprisoned women. In WP4, the study team will use a planning tool known as the Balance of Care approach to identify options for service provision. The research is led by a team based at the University of Manchester with input from the London School of Economics, Prison Reform Trust and the University of Southampton. The team brings together expertise in conducting research in (women s) prisons and adult social care. User perspectives were incorporated in the study design, and users will be involved in the management and conduct of the research. Outputs will include journal articles, conference presentations, expert briefing papers and media work.

Research activity codes: 8.1 ORGANISATION AND DELIVERY OF SERVICES;7.1 INDIVIDUAL CARE NEEDS
Health categories: DISPUTED AETIOLOGY AND OTHER