Healthcare and Forensic Services in Custody

Description

West Yorkshire Police, South Yorkshire Police and Humberside Police currently hold a regional contract with Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust (LCHT) for Healthcare and Forensic Services in Custody. This contract has been extended until 25th September 2026, with an option to extend for a further 6 months as contingency should the upcoming procurement fall behind schedule. The service is required to meet the healthcare needs of detainees in Police Custody and to carry out healthcare assessments followed by forensic examinations on suspects when required by the police. The service is also available to voluntary attendees (where appropriate) and police personnel subject to assaults or complaints. Where applicable, assessments must then be followed by screening to reduce reoffending and referral to community services. Where Liaison and Diversion (L&D) services are available there is an expectation that the Provider's staff will link into and support the work of L&D. Health promotion and disease prevention activities may be provided to patients. The service is provided to all 3 Forces 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year and includes: a) Holistic Healthcare Services. b) Forensic sampling following a healthcare assessment relevant for that purpose. c) A Call Centre through which the Forces can ask for forensic medical and healthcare services. The contract delivers a service model that offers a comprehensive range of consultation methods, that includes telephone contact with custody staff and face-to-face services to custody staff and patients. Face-to-face services are delivered through a combination of both embedded and call out services. Custody Health Care Professionals (HCPs) provide a region wide service to the 3 Forces, with an expectation to work across any suite/Force area as required. There are currently a total of 11 embedded HCPs, 5 working in West Yorkshire and 3 each in South Yorkshire & Humberside. Embedded HCPs will be on duty at a specific location for 12-hour shifts. All requests for healthcare assistance in custody are logged via a Call Centre whereby patients' details, nature of the call, custody location etc. is recorded. This ensures the correct resources are deployed to assist with each job. On occasions clinical advice may be sought via the Call Centre and the call handler will transfer the call to a HCP for immediate assistance. The role of the HCP in custody is to provide face-to-face clinical provision for detainees requiring/requesting healthcare services and also staff following assaults etc. The HCP is required to assist with contributing to the Forces risk and exit assessments, positive health promotion to all patients as well as handling & administering medicines where necessary. In addition to the embedded service, the contract also provides resilience across the region, to include the following: • Voluntary attendees; • Hospital; • Counter Terrorism Unit (Based in West Yorkshire); • Major incidents; • In Force estates where there are two examination rooms, HCP availability may be required at peak periods, for example, but not limited to bank holidays and periods of high numbers of visitors to the region, for example festivals. To support the requirements of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE) the services of Forensic Medical Examiners may be required to be called upon to assist with certain requirements, such as the first contact assessment of those detained in relation to Terrorism offences.

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