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Offender health

Offender Health (OH) is a joint Department of Health (DH) / Ministry of Justice National Offender Management Service (NOMS) unit, which as well as fulfilling the full scope of Department of State activity for DH on Offender Health, also comprises the Offender Health Directorate of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS).

The Offender Health Division is responsible for leading on development and delivery of a cross government Health and Criminal Justice Programme.  The Programme’s common aim is improving health and social care outcomes for adults and children in contact with the criminal justice system, focusing on early intervention, liaison and diversion. This is also an important component of the reducing re-offending and health inequalities agenda, with many offenders having mental health and/or substance misuse problems and social care needs.

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1 August 2011: Procedure for the transfer from custody of children and young people under the Mental Health Act 1983 in England.

Guidance setting out the procedure for transferring to and from hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 any child or young person who is: i) detained in custody in pursuance of any sentence or order for detention; ii) remanded in custody or who is otherwise detained in custody.

14 July 2011: Guidance for commissioning of prison-based substance misuse services

In March 2011, the Department of Health, Ministry of Justice, and the National Treatment Agency announced the transfer of responsibility for funding prison substance misuse services from Ministry of Justice to Department of Health (Gateway Reference 15827). This guidance provides an outline overview of next steps and guiding principles for local delivery and implementation.

23 June 2011: Membership of National Liaison and Development Network 2011/12

This list details membership of a national network of 101 local liaison and diversion services at police stations and courts, which intervene at an early stage to identify and assess those with mental health or substance misuse problems and help them into treatment where appropriate. This network has been established following the Government’s commitment in the 2010 Spending Review to make liaison and diversion services available on a national basis by 2014, and will work over the coming period to help us understand and evaluate the best model for commissioning these services and implementing them across the country in the future.

31 March 2011: Funding for 2011/12 substance misuse services in prisons

The 2010 Spending Review transferred responsibility for substance misuse services in adult prisons in England to the Department of Health from April 2011. This letter confirms new responsibilities and funding allocations for 2011/12.

31 March 2011: Funding for 2011/12 substance misuse specialist interventions and treatment

The 2010 Spending Review transferred responsibility for substance misuse services for children held in custody in England to the Department of Health from April 2011. This letter confirms new responsibilities and funding allocations for 2011/12.

Offender Health publications and guidance

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