Women’s Social Care in Prison: Identifying needs and an appropriate service response

The aim of social care is to help people meet their needs to support their well-being. This might include help with washing, dressing, family relationships, work/training. Women need specific types of social care that consider their
gender, circumstances and vulnerability to abuse and neglect.

The level of social care needs in prisons is increasing but the provision is variable and in places lacking. The Care Act 2014 made it clear that local authorities with prisons within their boundaries are responsible for assessing
imprisoned people with social care needs, and for providing support. Authorities are also responsible for people with social care needs if they come into their area on release from prison. Research on imprisoned men showed that many had social care needs affecting their day-to-day functioning and would benefit from support to enable them to make the best use of their time in prison, maintain their safety and dignity and leave prison equipped to manage in wider society. However, there has been little research on imprisoned women’s social care needs.
This research will provide local authorities with information to help them develop and deliver social care for imprisoned women, including information on the nature of their social care needs and the range and cost of the services they require. It will inform local and national service planning, facilitate the development of better social care services for imprisoned women and improve important outcomes such as their independence, wellbeing, rehabilitation and risk of re-offending.
The study has four work packages(WP). WP1 will scope prisoners’ social care needs by interviewing 350 women in four prisons in England. In WP2, the study team will conduct a national survey of local authorities in England to examine their arrangements to meet their responsibilities for imprisoned women, including how they identify those with social care needs, deliver assessments, develop care plans and provide services. WP3 will involve interviews with a wide range of social care and prison practitioners and service users/ex-users to develop an understanding of good practice and of problems arising when providing social care for imprisoned women. In WP4, the study team will use a planning tool known as the Balance of Care approach to identify options for service provision.
The research is led by a team based at the University of Manchester with input from the London School of Economics, Prison Reform Trust and the University of Southampton. The team brings together expertise in conducting research in (women’s) prisons and adult social care. User perspectives were incorporated in the study design, and users will be involved in the management and conduct of the research.
Outputs will include journal articles, conference presentations, expert briefing papers and media work.