National Care Standards: Services for People in Criminal Justice Supported Accommodation

Health and wellbeing

Standard 4

You will be provided with a healthy environment in which to live, encouraged to pursue a healthy lifestyle and assisted in accessing appropriate healthcare and other services.

1 You receive information on your rights and how to register with a GP, together with a list of GP services in the area where you are living. This information includes an explanation of your legal rights for accessing your GP medical record.

2 You receive information on a healthy lifestyle, or have explained to you how to access the information. You receive encouragement and support to follow this healthy lifestyle, including opportunities to be involved
in regular exercise and having access to smoke-free areas where you are staying.

3 You know that staff are qualified, trained and experienced to meet your needs and to assist you in exercising your rights and responsibilities.

4 You are treated with respect and dignity by the service at all times.

5 You live in a comfortable and homely environment which is, as far as possible, free from disturbing noise levels. The accommodation is appropriately maintained and decorated.

6 Staff of the service are encouraging and supportive in their approach
to you.

7 You know that staff will not generally discuss or share anything they know about your health problems with others. If they need to do so, this will be with your consent, wherever possible.

8 You can have consultations with healthcare personnel in private, that are not overheard and are without unwanted intrusion.

9 You can undertake personal, intimate and health-related activities
in private.

10 You are treated with sensitivity from staff about health-related issues.

11 Where meals are provided, you can choose from menus that reflect a balanced, nutritional diet, and any special dietary needs that you have will be met. The menus reflect your choices and preferences, including ethnic, cultural and faith or religious ones.

12 Staff support and advise you about your personal hygiene, if necessary.

13 You have help to keep and develop appropriate contact with family and friends and to receive visits.

14 You can discuss any concerns about the quality of care you are receiving with staff. You know that your concerns will be treated seriously.

15 If you take medication regularly and need help with taking it, and staff of the service cannot provide that help, then you are helped to make appropriate arrangements.

16 If you are legally required to take or to be given your medication as directed and you fail to do so, you know and understand that the staff must report this to the relevant authorities. Staff will work in line with legal powers1 that allow other people to give permission to receive treatment if it is necessary for your health and welfare ( see note below).

17 If your children are staying with you, their needs will be considered separately. You have help to access health, education and social services for your children. There will be a separate care plan for each child and facilities suitable for his or her age.