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Self-Harm (Prisons)

Answer

Relatively few prisoners, the vast majority of whom are female, account for most self-harm incidents across the prison estate. In 2005, 50 prisoners (1 per cent. of individuals responsible for self-harm incidents) accounted for about 25 per cent. of all reported self-harm incidents; 260 prisoners (5 per cent.) accounted for about 50 per cent. The average number of self-harm incidents per individual who has self-harmed is currently about four per year but 23 prisoners had more than 100 recorded incidents.A broad, integrated and evidence-based prisoner suicide prevention and self-harm management strategy is in place. The strategy can be summarised as, ‘Reducing distress and promoting the well being of all who live and work in prisons.' It operates by embedding ‘safer custody' as a current through every area of prison life—including detoxification, healthcare, staff training, and the built environment. The key intervention currently being introduced across public and private prisons is the new care-planning system for at-risk prisoners: Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT). ACCT aims to improve the quality of care by introducing flexible care-planning that is prisoner-centred, supported by improved staff training in assessing and understanding at-risk prisoners.Comprehensive electronic guidance to staff on managing people who self-harm has been issued; this was developed in close partnership with the Department of Health and the National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) and aims to be of use to all those working with people who self-harm within a secure environment.The Prison Service has set up a network of establishments to develop interventions, facilitate evaluation and share good practice around managing prisoners who self-harm. An information leaflet about managing self-harm written by a prisoner for prisoners includes information on how to manage self-injury and how to get help within the prison context. Touch screen technology is being developed in prisons to inform prisoners of where to obtain support and how to support other prisoners.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

57771; 443 c2313-4W;443 c2313-4W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Prisons Self-harm

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk