12 December 2024

On Friday 6 December, colleagues from across our Health and Justice services gathered for their annual conference.

Health and Justice services provide primary care, substance misuse and mental health services across prisons and youth justice institutions in London and the south-east England.

Kicking off the conference, Service Director, Patrick Gillespie, highlighted the significant changes happening within the directorate. It’s been a year of navigating new leadership, such as welcoming Dr Mellisha Padayatchi as the new Clinical Director.

Patrick shared examples of collaborative partnerships that have made a real difference in the outcomes for patients, including the SDS40 Early Release Scheme, introduced by the Government to ease pressures on the prison system.

“We were able to work with housing, mental health, sexual health, and social care services to ensure safe and successful discharges. It was only through these collective efforts that we were able to support these individuals as they re-entered the community.”

Anna Motz, Consultant Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, spoke about responding to self-harm and trauma in prison settings. For more than three decades, Anna has worked in prisons, secure hospital wards, and the community.

Anna’s presentation highlighted the intense emotional toll that working with individuals who self-harm can have on staff.

“When you work with people who self-harm, it can be overwhelming. We often feel a natural ‘rescue’ instinct, wanting to save them. But we have to recognise that this instinct needs to be managed carefully to prevent burnout.”

She also spoke about the dangers of reciprocal trauma—how working with self-harming individuals can leave staff feeling emotionally drained and unable to switch off when they go home.

“We can’t afford to ignore the emotional impact this work has on us. It’s crucial to have space to talk with colleagues, to reflect on what these behaviours mean, and to ensure we have the support we need.”

Matthew Barker, Healthcare Director for the Metropolitan Police, provided a look into the healthcare pathways for detainees in police custody.

“The healthcare needs of individuals in custody are evolving. Seventy thousand detainees have some type of addiction, and we’re seeing an increasing number of individuals with long-term health conditions.”

Matthew stressed the importance of integrating healthcare services across the entire justice system, from custody through to court and prison.

Throughout the day, we also heard a range of presentations about:

  • The mobilisation, planning and delivery of a Secure School
  • Prison staff working with prisoners around self-harm and suicide
  • A community partnership approach to supporting at risk young people
  • Brain injury and women in the criminal justice system
  • Improving physical health monitoring and patient flow in low secure services

Find out more about CNWL's specialist Health and Justice service lines here: https://www.cnwl.nhs.uk/health-and-justice