Criminal Justice Link Service

Penny Cram, Hafal's Criminal Justice Lead Officer

Hafal's Criminal Justice Link Service is aimed at anyone with a serious mental illness who has become involved (or is at risk of becoming involved) in the criminal justice system. By serious mental illness we mean schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and other diagnoses which typically involve psychosis (losing touch with reality or experiencing delusions) or requiring high levels of care or which might require hospital treatment.

Four Link Officers work across all Probation areas of Wales providing a link between the criminal justice agencies and mental health services. The aim of the service is to assist clients to engage with and maintain contact with services. Two Link Officers also provide a specialist support and resettlement service to women prisoners who are returning to Wales upon release from HMP Styal and HMP Eastwood Park: this specific element of the service is also available to women with less serious mental health problems.

The Link Service is not a replacement for statutory provision and the Link Officers do not take over responsibility from the relevant caseworkers in either the criminal justice agencies or mental health services; but they do provide a point of contact for professionals (as well as clients themselves) to get specialist advice and guidance. The Link Service provides:-

Advice and information - on the areas required to address recovery from mental illness, including: accommodation, physical wellbeing, work and occupation, training and education, finance and money, social, cultural and spiritual matters, parenting and caring responsibilities, medication for mental illness and other forms of treatment for mental illness.

Anyone contacting Hafal will receive personalised advice about the main area of concern raised, together with additional advice which can assist them in moving forward.

Short-term support - Hafal's Link Officers support the relevant caseworkers and provide time-limited personal support to clients including: listening, advice, guidance and support, especially during transitional periods, e.g. from prison back into the community.

Short-term informal advocacy e.g. help with making initial phone calls, help with introductions to support agencies and encouraging initial attendance at appointments.

Signposting to additional support - Hafal's Link Officers will help individuals to appropriate support agencies.

Specialist support and resettlement service for women prisoners from Wales - Hafal's Link Officers meet women from Wales in prison; assist them to plan their needs upon release and help to ensure that appropriate services are in place. The Link Officers then provide support for up to six weeks after release.

Q & A

Who can make contact with the Link Service?

• Professionals from criminal justice and mental health services.
• Individuals who have a serious mental illness and have come into contact with the criminal justice system (or are at risk of such contact).
• Family members/carers

At what point can I make contact with the Link Service?

Any time: from the earliest stage when an individual is at risk of becoming involved in the criminal justice system, right through to the point when an individual has moved beyond the criminal justice process but still has needs to be met.

What happens next?

Responses depend on the nature of individual clients' needs. Levels of support vary and include including: advice over the telephone taking only a few minutes; information sent in the post; a meeting with the Link Officer resulting in support for up to six weeks. However, in ALL cases, detailed personal advice will be offered to clients giving useful information about the specific area of need together with more general advice.

How do I get more information or make contact with the Link Service?

By contacting the Link Service at Hafal:

North Wales Link Service, Hafal, 5 Rhiw Road, Colwyn bay, Conwy LL29 7TF Tel: 01492 531485 Email: linknorth@hafal.org

South Wales Link Service, Hafal, Suite C2, William Knox House, Britannic Way, Llandarcy, Neath SA10 6EL Tel: 01792 816600 Email: link@hafal.org