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Big Diversion Project
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Revolving Doors is working in partnership with Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS foundation trust (NTW) and Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS foundation trust (TEWV) to deliver the development phase of the Big Diversion Project in the North East. |
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The Big Diversion Project (BDP) was launched by the North East Offender Health Commissioning Unit (NEOHCU) in November 2010. It is the north east's response to Governmental documents such as The Bradley Report (Bradley, 2009) and Improving Health Supporting Justice (DH, 2010), which coupled with more recent publications such as No Health Without Mental Health (DH, 2011) and Breaking the Cycle (MOJ, 2010) all describe the ambition of better health outcomes for offenders through a multi-agency focus across the whole of the criminal justice pathway. This will also support key government initiatives around reducing health inequalities, reducing offending, health improvement and protecting the public.
This will involve the development of service specifications for diversion and liaison services that demonstrate value for money, and are achievable within the current economic environment. This will ensure the future commissioning of interventions that are strategic, effective, joined up and able to make the best use of available resources.
In translating this vision into action the Big Diversion Project has been formulated as 3 distinct phases (Figure 1).
Figure 1 - The 3 Phases of the BDP
In delivering Phase 2, NTW, TEWV and Revolving Doors will analyse existing service provision, propose new ways of working, test out and evaluate those new ways of working and produce service specifications which will then be market tested and implemented in Phase 3.
This analysis relates to the whole criminal justice pathway from pre-arrest to arrest to charge right through to courts, sentencing and finally community or custody disposal.
Our vision for diversion in the North East will see:
- Early identification of those in need.
- Inclusive services addressing complexity of need.
- Fair trial and treatment.
- Access to appropriate support at all stages of the criminal justice pathway.
- Continuity of care across the pathway and back into the community.
- Effective multi-agency working.
- Reduction in reoffending.
- Public protection.
A launch event for the development phase was held in Durham on October 21st 2011. Hosted by Professor Andrew Gray, there were presentations from Richard Bradshaw, Director of Offender Health, Maria Leonard from NTW, and Mark Bradley from TEWV. Revolving Doors’ Director of Development and Partnerships Catherine Hennessy presented on behalf of the partnership. (Presentations can be downloaded by clicking on the presenter's name).
Since then the analysis has proceeded with stakeholder and expert interviews, focus groups with frontline staff and service users, and an on-going literature review compiling national research, guidance and best practice.
Two regional stakeholder events have also been held: one in Middlesbrough on 9th February 2012 and one in Newcastle on 10th February 2012. The events were well attended by stakeholders from the voluntary, health and criminal justice sectors. Attendees were informed of the latest develoments in the Big Diversion Project, and given the opportunity to input into the analysis and suggest improvements in terms of service provision and practice.
Click here for a copy of the presentations given by Catherine Hennessy, Sarah Anderson and Claire Cairns from Revolving Doors, outlining the current status of the BDP.
Click here to view the flyer for the events.
Click here for a copy of the feedback form used at the events.
For further information on the analysis phase of the Big Diversion Project, contact us on bigdiversionproject@revolving-doors.org.uk.
