Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted
Paragraph: 68
Prison staff experienced significant pressure and uncertainty during the pandemic.
Conclusion
We recognise that prison staff have been under extra pressure during the pandemic and may face uncertainty as the prison restrictions are eased. We would like to express our appreciation again of all those who work in prisons.
Government response summary AI-generated
HMPPS is introducing a formal process to identify and support prisoners with mental capacity issues during parole, including accessing legal representation. Additionally, a 12-month Mental Health Streamlining Pilot was launched in November 2021 to expedite release suitability reviews for certain restricted patients.
Summary of the government's response below — read the verbatim text to verify.
Paragraph Reference:
68
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government · verbatim extract
Accepted
HMPPS is committed to listening to its staff to better understand how to improve their wellbeing and provide a fulfilling and safe workplace where they feel valued and supported. To promote positive wellbeing, HMPPS has robust mechanisms in place to ensure that it is delivering responsive and high-quality support to staff following traumatic incidents. This includes guidance for line managers detailing how to signpost staff to support and make occupational health referrals where staff can access cognitive behavioural therapy and eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy. These are specialist therapies to support individuals who have experienced occupational trauma. HMPPS recognises its duty of care and makes these therapies available to staff accordingly, ensuring rapid access once an assessment has taken place to aid their recovery so they can remain in work. All HMPPS staff, including prison officers, have access to ‘Reflective Sessions’ which aim to mitigate any potential negative impacts on their mental health due to the challenges of their roles. These sessions are routinely offered to senior prison managers and feedback shows that they have been positively received, as over 82% of all Governors and Deputy Governors have taken up the opportunity for a session. Managers within HMPPS can also access the Employee Assistance provider which is available 24 hours a day. This service can be accessed year-round via a helpline staffed by counsellors to provide confidential advice and support on any personal or work-related matters. Due to the ever-changing situation and emerging trends in poor mental health following Covid-19, the MoJ and HMPPS have now implemented a specialist ‘Post Covid Syndrome’ service. This provides employees who are suffering mental ill health symptoms from Long Covid with the opportunity to be referred into an eight-week functional restoration programme where they receive one-to-one rehabilitative support under the care of a mental health specialist.
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