Independent Review into the Delivery of Forensic Mental Health Services: Scottish Government response

Theme Six: Sharing Information and Expertise - Recommendations 59-67

Sharing Information About People Receiving Forensic Mental Health Services

Recommendation 59^*. The new Forensic Board should have a single electronic health records system. All staff in forensic mental health services should use the system and the Board should ensure that staff have access to technology of an appropriate quality to support their work.

Recommendation 60^*. The new Forensic Board's single electronic health records system should include a facility to clearly record where a person does, and where a person does not, consent to their information being shared with family members and certain partner organisations.

Recommendation 61^*. The new Forensic Board should develop a procedure for sharing information with external organisations, to support consistent practices across forensic mental health services that balance the rights of the individual and the protection of the public.

The Scottish Government will make information sharing part of the remit of the short life working group considering an improved governance, planning and collaboration approach for forensic mental health services in Scotland. The group will also consider the feasibility and benefits of one system being used by all forensic mental health services.

Provision of Forensic Mental Health Expertise to External Agencies

Recommendation 62^*. The new Forensic Board should develop a consistent way of providing consultation and advice to MAPPA and other external individuals or organisations (including other NHS services) that may benefit from access to forensic mental health expertise. The Scottish Government should work with the new Forensic Board to ensure that this consultation and advice service is adequately funded.

The Scottish Government will make consultation and advice to partner organisations part of the remit of the short life working group considering an improved governance, planning and collaboration approach for forensic mental health services in Scotland.

Recommendation 63. The Scottish Government should bring together the NHS, the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service and the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to agree an appropriately funded national framework to ensure the timely provision of court reports by psychiatrists and psychologists for assessment and sentencing purposes. This should be actioned within one year of the publication of this report.

Recommendation 64^*. The Scottish Government, together with the new Forensic Board and the relevant criminal justice agencies, should review the current limitations about which disciplines can complete court reports. They should consider what professional qualifications and training are necessary for the completion of these reports, including whether a change of law is required.

The Scottish Government recognises the issues and difficulties raised by the Independent Review with regard to provision of court reports. We will work with partners in Criminal Justice and in Health and Social Care to consider solutions. An early task will be to consider the steps required and a realistic timescale for change.

Research, Education and Training

Recommendation 65^*. The new Forensic Board must support the work of the School of Forensic Mental Health to continue developing and progressing education, training and research activities within Scotland's forensic mental health services.

The Scottish Government continues to support the work of the School of Forensic Mental Health in developing and progressing education, training and research in forensic mental health services in Scotland.

Recommendation 66^*. Working with the School for Forensic Mental Health and wider stakeholders, the new Forensic Board should set evidence-based standards for staff skillsets and training, that include best practice in caring for and treating people with a learning disability.

The Scottish Government recognises the value of highly skilled staff working in forensic mental health services and will continue to support the School of Forensic Mental Health in improving the standard of training.

Recommendation 67^*. The new Forensic Board should work with community providers and partner agencies to develop skilled staff teams who are confident and empowered to provide support, including positive risk taking, to people from forensic mental health services.

The Scottish Government agrees that sharing skills and knowledge of those working in forensic mental health services will be invaluable to community providers and partner agencies.

^* This recommendation refers to a new Forensic Board having responsibility. See response to recommendation 1