Response to question: 060525: Mental Health and Substance Use Training for Prison Staff
Work on a Health and Wellbeing Learning and Development strategy began in October 2024 on the back of the launch of SPS Mental Health strategy and then soon to be released Alcohol & Drug Recovery strategy (published in January 2025). Both strategies refer to workforce development and support. As an organisation, the SPS need to ensure that our staff have the right knowledge and skills as well as access to training to effectively support individuals in our care who face challenges related to mental health and/or substance use problems and those in recovery. A review of the literature, coupled with an analysis of the current training opportunities available to staff, has underscored a deficiency in appropriate training and the necessity for more comprehensive development opportunities. I am looking for information on the development opportunities, including core-to-role training, that are available in other European prisons.