Wandsworth Prison (Hansard, 21 March 1995)

§ Mr. Michael Forsyth

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange a reply to be given.

Letter from A.J. Butler to Mr. Tom Cox, dated 21 March 1995: The Home Secretary has asked me, in the absence of the Director General from the office, to reply to our recent Question about the existing guidelines in Wandsworth prison for coping with a prisoner identified as being at risk of self harm. The Prison Service has introduced an updated strategy called 'Caring For The Suicidal In Custody' this year. Wandsworth prison was one of the establishments which piloted this scheme. It moves away from treating suicide as a medical responsibility to involve all staff working towards suicide prevention. Personal officer schemes give prisoners a direct link with a member of staff whom they can turn to in times of distress. All prison officers receive suicide awareness training as part of their induction programme. Every prisoner who arrives at Wandsworth, as in other prisons, is screened on the initial reception and are interviewed by a medical officer. They are also shown the 'Misadvantages Video' which, using a realistic storyline, deals with the issue of custodial suicide. When a prisoner is identified as being at risk of self harm, a standard form known as a F2052 SH is raised. He is then seen by the Residential Unit Manager and a Health Care Officer who make an initial assessment. If appropriate, the prisoner may be transferred to a shared cell where increased contact is used as a preventative measure, or he may be transferred to the Health Care Centre where he will be seen by a doctor. When necessary the prisoner is placed under observation. The desirability of continuous observation must be weighed against any possible psychological damage this may inflict. When the standard form is raised a case review is held and a support plan devised. Further case reviews are held as needed. There are regular discussions with the prisoner as part of his daily supervision and to enable him to feel more in control of his situation. The standard form is only closed when the prisoner appears to be coping. Wandsworth has established a 'Suicide Awareness Group' which co-ordinates the dissemination of information about best practice, reviews the incidents of self harm and death in custody, and inputs this information into the training programme for staff. This is a multi-disciplinary group which includes a representative of the Board of Visitors. Samaritans visit the prison weekly and have trained prisoners to be listeners. There are also strong contact with the visiting consultant psychiatrists.