Covid-19 and Probation's Health-Related Practice, 2020-2021

Sirdifield, Coral and Nichols, Helen and Mullen, Philip and Schartau, Imogen (2021). Covid-19 and Probation's Health-Related Practice, 2020-2021. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-855017

Individuals supervised by probation are more likely to have certain health problems than the general population, often having multiple physical and mental health problems. Poor health can negatively impact on criminal justice outcomes like reoffending. In partnership with healthcare organisations, probation work to identify health needs and improve the health of people under supervision. Probation replaced office appointments with email, Skype and doorstep visits in response to the pandemic, and models of partnership working between health and justice agencies have adapted, changing how healthcare is accessed. The nature and impact of these changes for those under supervision isn't fully understood. Concerns have been raised that existing difficulties that this vulnerable group encounter with accessing healthcare may be made worse. However, the pandemic may also have led to helpful innovations in how healthcare is provided that need to be captured and spread. Following discussions with several senior probation staff, NHS England and individuals with lived experience of the criminal justice system, we have created a proposal to address this knowledge gap and thereby inform future policy and practice. We will use staff survey data and correspondence, and service user interviews to improve understanding of the nature and impact of Covid-19 responses on a) health-related probation practice, b) the lived experience of seeking health support whilst under probation supervision, and c) partnership working and pathways into care. Revolving Doors are key to capturing service user views. Through joint working with stakeholders findings will directly inform how services are provided in the future.

Data description (abstract)

This collection includes 27 qualitative surveys completed by probation staff in England about their perceptions of the impact of the response to Covid-19 on their health-related practice with people under supervision. It also includes transcripts from 11 interviews with people that were under probation supervision during the pandemic about the impact of the response to the pandemic on their health, access to healthcare, and their experience of working with probation or health services to improve their health during the pandemic. Notes from two brief follow-up conversations with probation staff which aimed to add detail to the survey findings are also included.

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