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Birmingham and Solihull Mental health NHS Foundation Trust
Better Together
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Criminal Justice Recovery Team

From the 1st April 2023 the Birmingham and Solihull Liaison and Diversion, Reconnect and MHTR will merge into one service which will be known as Criminal Justice Recovery Team also known as Integrated Offender Health in the service specification. 

The Criminal Justice Recovery Team also known as Integrated Offender Health in service specification consisting of Liaison and Diversion, Reconnect/ Prison and Mental Health Treatment (MHTR) is  a specialised team provided by Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust (BSMHFT) to work within police custody suites, Birmingham Magistrates Court, and the community.

The team consists of

  • Allied Health Professionals
  • Practitioners
  • Nurses
  • Occupational Health therapist
  • Social Workers
  • Psychologists
  • Recovery lead
  • Support Time and Recovery workers (STR)
  • Peer mentors.  

 

Who assess vulnerable individuals with complex needs who are being brought into the Criminal Justice System having been accused of criminal activity.  

These needs include, but is not limited to, support with 

  • mental health
  • a learning disability
  • substance misuse
  • homelessness
  • financial needs
  • social difficulties.


Hear about individuals experiences

The Criminal Justice Recovery Team can be used by any individual within a criminal justice system – most commonly police custody, the courts and prison.  Some of those people we see in court ,custody  and prison are also supported by our Outreach, Youth and MHTR service.   We also have a Reconnect/ Prison Liaison service for clients who are seen in custody and court and then who subsequently are given a short prison sentence.

The team includes practitioners,

  • Recovery lead,
  • Psychologist,
  • Support Time & Recovery Worker (STR),
  • Peer Mentors who are staff with a variety of lived experience, including people who have been through the Criminal Justice System.


We work in partnership with Birmingham Voluntary Sector Council (BVSC), Anawim, the women’s centre based in Balsall Heath and Aston Villa Football club for our youth.

We also work with the police, probation and other agencies supporting people going through the criminal justice system. 

Our referrals are received from professionals who work within the criminal justice agency setting. This includes custody staff, custody healthcare professionals, substance misuse services, concerned or interested persons and self-referral, prison staff.

We also accept referrals for assessment from outside agencies and prisons that maybe involved in the care of the person in custody and are aware of them being in the custody setting.

Anyone is able to access our service, there is no age restriction. The individual to be assessed must be in police custody, court or prison or community if they have been released after contact with criminal justice system.

All individuals who are assessed and found to be in need of further specialist intervention will be referred to the appropriate services.

This is done by using existing pathways for those particular services.

This includes hospital admission, Home Treatment Team input, primary and secondary mental health services, substance misuse services, prison in-reach services, GP and relevant third sector or voluntary agency services.

  • The Custody team will be operating from the team base at Perry Barr Custody Suite 7 days a week during the day excluding nights.  
  • The Magistrates and Crown Court staff will be required to work predominantly office opening hours Monday-Friday within court opening times.
  • The Outreach team will operate from Monday to Friday
  • MHTR- Monday to Friday
  • Reconnect- Monday to Friday

 

An individual can access our service by self-referral whilst in police custody or court by making staff aware they wish to speak to a practitioner within the team or in prison by talking to healthcare professional or prison staff, or contacting the number below, or from information from our leaflets, which have been given to people when they leave custody/ court or in prison.

The team can be contacted on 0121 301 4409 or 07768 308222.