Nacro's response to Breaking the Cycle Green Paper

Breaking the Cycle: Nacro’s response | 31Users (2009); a regular survey of the schemes operating in England and Wales; and a nationaldirectory of schemes.Nacro believes that if liaison and diversion schemes are to be effective, they need to:• result from a clear commissioning framework• be located, where possible, within mainstream services and supported by strategic planning• operate at multiple points of intervention along the offender healthcare pathway• be staffed by multi-disciplinary teams with access to a variety of services and expertiseincluding administrative support• identify offenders via tried and tested methods of screening and assessment• perform a range of functions including assessments, liaison and signposting• meet the needs of all disadvantaged groups who may be further disadvantaged throughtheir involvement in the criminal justice system and/or mental health system• have clear and robust governance arrangements, including input from service users anddisadvantaged groups• be underpinned by jointly agreed protocols and service level agreements• develop links and networks with a range of service providers to ensure appropriate andeffective outcomes• involve carefully worked out protocols for recording and monitoring.Q19 How can we ensure that existing good practice can inform the programme ofmental health liaison and diversion pilot projects for adults and young people?Nacro’s work in this field demonstrates a number of examples of good practice in respect ofliaison and diversion. But in order to capture and disseminate the lessons from these, we mustmove to a systematic process of comparison of practice and outcomes achieved. In our view,any national roll-out of diversion and liaison must include detailed local mapping of currentprovision including:• the aims, purpose and operation of existing schemes• touch points in the criminal justice system• resourcing and staffing• protocols and service level agreements• governance and commissioning arrangements• outcomes relating to offender health and reduction of reoffending.This should lead to guidance on best practice in respect of future design and operation of liaisonand diversion practice at the local level and be disseminated to commissioners and senior managersin all relevant criminal justice, health and social care agencies. Practitioners need to be supportedto deliver best practice through a professional support network which could be physical orvirtual. We are aware that no accredited training package for new practitioners exists currently.Developing such a vehicle would both enhance capabilities and also disseminate good practice.