Mitie Wins Contract with Merseyside Police and NHS England 

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18 August 2020 | Updated 25 August 2020

Mitie Care & Custody has been awarded a new contract by Merseyside Police, NHS England and NHS Improvement.

The contract is to provide medical, liaison and diversion services to all youth, magistrates, crown and complex case courts, and 109 cells in police stations across the region.

The contract, commencing on 1 October 2020, is for five years and includes the option to extend for another two years.

Liaison and Diversion Services

The new contract will combine Merseyside Police’s Custody Healthcare provision with NHS England and NHS Improvement’s Liaison and Diversion service for the first time, making Merseyside just the fourth Police Force in England to do so. 

The intention of the collaboration is to simplify and streamline processes and ensure that any vulnerable individuals in custody are more quickly identified, receiving tailored and continuous support as well as prompt access to any health or social care services.

A team of around 60 healthcare professionals will deliver a number of custodial and forensic health services, such as medical assessments, making specialist referrals and delivering prescription medication for people in custody. The team will also carry out examinations of potential suspects, as required by police authorities, in accordance with the Police and Criminal Evidence Act of 1984 and the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on Detention and Custody.

"We look forward to implementing this new contract to deliver improved custodial healthcare, liaison and diversion services for Merseyside.”

–Colin Dobell

Managing Director, Care & Custody, Mitie

Medical services will also be available for voluntary attendees, meaning people who have committed minor offences but are not in custody or who are submitting their testimony at police stations. This service for voluntary attendees will also ensure that vulnerable individuals can access healthcare and support services that would only be available to them if they were in custody.

In addition to these health services, Mitie will work with Mersey Care to deliver liaison and diversion services to individuals in custody that have either been identified as vulnerable during their initial health evaluations or referred to the liaison and diversion team. These services will include further specialist and risk assessments, including mental health and gender-sensitive assessments, to ensure that vulnerable people, either in custody or in court, can be supported appropriately at these stages of the criminal justice system and be referred to the appropriate health or social care services they require to meet their needs. 

Colin Dobell, Managing Director, Care & Custody, Mitie, commented: “Mitie Care & Custody teams already provide specialist custodial medical services to police forces across England and Wales, including two integrated healthcare contracts in Great Manchester and Cheshire. 

“We’ll be building on this expertise to safeguard the health and wellbeing of detainees in our care and ensure ongoing support when they leave custody. We look forward to implementing this new contract to deliver improved custodial healthcare, liaison and diversion services for Merseyside.”

Picture: A photograph of the top of a police car, showing the blue siren

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 18 August 2020

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