Mental health staff and assessments in the Prison Service

​​Request ​792043874

1.Over the past 12 months, how many days has the prison operated with no on-site mental health professional available to prisoners?

2. What arrangements are in place for mental health assessments, and who carries them out (e.g. prison staff, GP, off-site services)? 

3. What is the average waiting time for a prisoner to be assessed by a mental health professional after requesting help? 

4. How many prisoners are currently on a mental health waiting list? 

5. Has the prison formally reported any concerns about insufficient mental health staffing or resources to the Government of Jersey in the last two years?

Response

1. The prison operates with a small team of nurses and has access to wider community mental health resources.

Initial mental health assessments are ordinarily conducted by a Mental Health Nurse or practitioner GP, or Specialist Psychiatric Nurse. In the unlikely event that an immediate on-site assessment is necessary and cannot be facilitated, the Mental Health Crisis Team (a community-based service) is requested to attend the prison to assess the individual. Prior to escalation, initial intervention and triage would typically be undertaken by prison nursing staff and the General Practitioner to determine clinical need and urgency.

The specific information requested namely, the number of days within the past 12 months during which no on-site mental health professional was available, is not held in a recorded format.

Under Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, a public authority is only required to supply information that is held in recorded form.

As this data is not recorded or centrally collated, it is not possible to provide a numerical response.

It should be noted, however, that mental health provision remains available to prisoners through established healthcare pathways, including community crisis services where required.

2. Upon entry into custody, individuals undergo assessments during both primary and secondary screening, including a GP consultation. Following these assessments, individuals are triaged and referred to appropriate services, mirroring the pathways available in the community. Prisoners have access to mental health nurses and a dedicated mental health in‑reach team, which supports assessment, intervention, and referral to specialist psychiatric services.

In addition to clinical support, peer‑led initiatives contributes to emotional wellbeing such as our Welfare Induction Reps. Trained peer supporters such as Listener schemes, delivered in partnership with the Samaritans, provide confidential support to individuals experiencing distress or isolation.

Where a person's mental health needs exceed what can be safely or effectively managed within the custodial environment, they are subject to further assessment and may be considered for community‑based treatment or, where necessary, specialist off‑island placements.

Wrap‑around care is maintained through ongoing prisoner monitoring, through Multidisciplinary case management reviews, and monitoring using RCA, Medical or Behaviour observations as deemed appropriate, ensuring that risks are identified early, interventions are coordinated, and support remains responsive to the individual’s changing needs.

3. Prisoners may submit a written application outlining their concerns. An initial response to such applications is provided generally within 48 hours.

Waiting times for a full mental health assessment vary. Referrals are triaged upon receipt and prioritised according to clinical urgency. Cases are escalated to the appropriate practitioner or service pathway based on assessed need.

The requested information, an average waiting time figure, is not held in recorded form. Waiting times are dependent on clinical presentation, risk assessment, and service pathway, and are not collated as a standardised average.

Under Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, the authority is not required to create new information in order to respond to a request. Accordingly, this information cannot be provided.

4. Mental health referrals are triaged upon receipt and prioritised according to clinical need and risk. As such, there is not a single static “waiting list” in operation. Individuals may be awaiting routine assessment, scheduled review, or specialist intervention depending on their clinical pathway.

The Prison Service does not hold a recorded figure of prisoners on a defined “mental health waiting list” at a single point in time. Caseloads are dynamic and change daily in response to new referrals, clinical prioritisation, transfers, and releases.

Under Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011, a public authority is only required to provide information that is held in recorded form. As a specific numerical figure for a waiting list is not recorded or maintained in this format, the requested information is not held.

It should be noted that all referrals are clinically triaged, and urgent cases are prioritised in line with established healthcare pathways.

5. The Prison Service operates within governance frameworks and engages routinely with relevant departments regarding operational matters, including healthcare provision and resourcing.

There have been no formal reports made by the Prison Service specifically declaring mental health staffing or resources to be insufficient within the meaning implied by this request during the past two years.

Operational discussions regarding workforce planning, service delivery, and resource allocation form part of routine governance and budgetary processes. These do not constitute formal reports of insufficiency.

Article Applied

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a) it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b) it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.