Source · IAPDC

Priorities for a prevention of death strategy in Immigration Removal Centres

Published: 24 October 2020 Sector: Immigration Detention Type: Thematic Report Recommendations: 24 No formal response recorded

Index summary

Thematic report and action plan setting out priorities for a prevention of death strategy across Immigration Removal Centres. Contains 24 recommendations addressed to the Home Office and partners.

Original evidence

Recommendations

24 items
Recommendation 1 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office and IRC providers, IAP · Open

Recommendation · source text

Improve the transparency of data in relation to deaths in detention by improving Home Office website signposting and through publication of a quarterly statistical report. Provide disaggregated data covering ethnicity, age, location, possible risk groups, type of death (in progress).

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 2 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office, HMPPS · Open

Recommendation · source text

To improve transparency and improve learning, expand the definition of a ‘death’ in an IRC, for example by collecting and publishing details of detainees who die in prison while under immigration powers and those who die shortly after leaving detention (in progress).

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 3 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office · Open

Recommendation · source text

Introduce reporting to mirror that of HMPPS to provide notification of deaths to key external stakeholders.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 4 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office · Open

Recommendation · source text

Develop an increased understanding of the impact of cultural differences on the effectiveness of suicide prevention strategies.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 5 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office · Open

Recommendation · source text

Improve, expand and utilise translation services. Explore ways for all staff to have access to interpretation services, for example through mobile devices (in progress).

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 6 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office, IRC providers, HMPPS · Open

Recommendation · source text

Improve information sharing between prison and immigration removal centres. Key information (such as any vulnerabilities, history of violence, any mental health or clinical concerns) about the individual should be shared ahead of their arrival so that the immigration centre has adequate time to plan and prepare.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 7 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office with possible suggestions from HMPPS · Open

Recommendation · source text

Develop and introduce a system with immigration centres that tracks any important dates or decisions that might be of importance to the detainee such as days leading up to deportation, around trials and / or appeals.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 8 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office, IAP, Ministerial Board on Deaths in Custody · Open

Recommendation · source text

Review and share learning and best practice on childhood and later trauma with aim of using it to prevent suicide and self-harm.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 9 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office, IAP, Ministerial Board on Deaths in Custody · Open

Recommendation · source text

Review and sharing of learning and best practice on how different organisations train staff, particularly on suicide and self-harm prevention.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 10 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office · Open

Recommendation · source text

Ensure clear communication with detainees through information that is tailored to suit their unique needs and circumstances. Facilitate family contact where possible to provide support and mitigate feelings of hopelessness and uncertainty.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 11 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office · Open

Recommendation · source text

Carry out further research to examine the impact of decreases to the immigration population, both in recent years and as part of the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, on self-harm rates and wider wellbeing indicators.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 12 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office · Open

Recommendation · source text

Prioritise alternatives to detention for those with pre-existing or significant mental health needs (in progress).

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 13 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office, IAP, Ministerial Board · Open

Recommendation · source text

Carry out further research comparing remand, IPP prisoners and others serving indeterminate terms with those detained in IRCs to further understand the impact of uncertainty and hopelessness on detainees.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 14 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office · Open

Recommendation · source text

Increase resources for Samaritans and listeners within IRCs.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 15 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office, IRC providers, healthcare providers, NHS E/I · Open

Recommendation · source text

Ensure that vital information is shared between hospitals and immigration removal centres.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 16 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office, IRC providers, NHS E/I · Open

Recommendation · source text

Provide guidance to staff to enquire about the urgency of a matter which leads to a detainee requesting a healthcare appointment.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 17 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office, IRC providers, healthcare providers, NHS E/I · Open

Recommendation · source text

Review healthcare screening processes to account for language barriers and the likelihood of limited prior interaction with healthcare systems and ensure that processes are understood and the detainee can participate.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 18 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: HMPPS, Home Office · Open

Recommendation · source text

Work with HMPPS to update ACDT within removal centres (in progress).

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 19 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office with advice from IAP · Open

Recommendation · source text

Develop and roll out cultural awareness training for staff to increase understanding of the different ways in which detainees might express pain or anxiety.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 20 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office with advice from IAP · Open

Recommendation · source text

Introduce the use of a checklist system or other cognitive aid that can be used by staff members during times of emergency to aid them to treat an individual humanely and effectively.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 21 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office with IAP · Open

Recommendation · source text

Formalise mechanisms for sharing lessons learned across IRCs following a death and the involvement of independent scrutiny and facilitation at lessons learned exercises.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 22 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office in conjunction with service providers · Open

Recommendation · source text

Share regular updates of good practice with the different service providers encouraging them to share good practice with each centre. Good practice should be disseminated via regular newsletters or regular meetings with senior management of each centre. Devise formal ways of checking that learning has been embedded.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 23 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office in collaboration with Ministry of Justice with relevant NGOs · Open

Recommendation · source text

Work with the Ministry of Justice to allow non-relatives and relevant organisations to apply to be recognised as an interested person where family representation is not possible. Deliver improvements to information provided to bereaved families, including sources of specialist advice and support.

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Recommendation 24 · Link to recommendation

Addressed to: Home Office · Open

Recommendation · source text

Develop method of providing resources and feedback to bereaved families on actions taken and ensure these are subject to a regular review (in progress).

No response text is recorded for this recommendation.

Report details

Published
24 October 2020
Sector
Immigration Detention
Type
Thematic Report

Status breakdown

Open 24

Addressees

Home Office and IRC providers, IAP1
Home Office, HMPPS1
Home Office8
Home Office, IRC providers, HMPPS1
Home Office with possible suggestions from HMPPS1
Home Office, IAP, Ministerial Board on Deaths in Custody2
Home Office, IAP, Ministerial Board1
Home Office, IRC providers, healthcare providers, NHS E/I2
Home Office, IRC providers, NHS E/I1
HMPPS, Home Office1
Home Office with advice from IAP2
Home Office with IAP1
Home Office in conjunction with service providers1
Home Office in collaboration with Ministry of Justice with relevant NGOs1

Source links