Consultancy activity is of ever increasing economic and strategic importance to University Departments and Centres. It enhances relationships with key customers whilst affording consultants the opportunity to remain abreast of changes in health service delivery and policy.

Professor Brooker has undertaken considerable consultancy activity over his career and the customers have been diverse, including: Government Departments (notably the Home Office, NHS Executive and Department of Health), a large number of Trusts (both inside and outside Trent and North West Regions) and the Royal Colleges of Nursing and Psychiatry. The bulk of his consultancy work has been obtained through his specialist professional background in mental health.

Examples of recent consultancy

Policy Exchange
Professor Brooker is working with Policy Exchange ( http://www.policyexchange.org.uk), a Think Tank based in London, to produce a report on the current status of mental health care in prisons. Eight national experts have been interviewed, recent research examined and new research undertaken. The first report which analyses the challenges in prisons will be launched on July 7th 2008. The 2nd report which will draw on an expert roundtable event and international case studies will be forthcoming in the Autumn.

Review of Lincolnshire Prisons
Professor Brooker, working alongside Coral Sirdifield (Research Assistant) and Laura Belshaw (East Midlands CSIP) have recently reviewed the provision of mental health care in the Lincolnshire prisons (HMP Lincoln, HMP Morton Hall and HMP North Sea Camp). This work was commissioned from Lincolnshire PCT (contact Allen Kitt) and the East Midlands CSIP Office (contact Carl Finch) and completed in March 2008.

Skills for Health Demonstration Site- Criminal Justice Dual Diagnosis Training
Dr Liz Hughes is working with the Department of Health (Offender ealth), West London Life-Long Learning Network and Thames Valley University to develop competency-led training in dual diagnosis interventions for workers in the criminal justice field. This training will be delivered and evaluated in the London area, and will include prison mental health and substance use workers, as well as offender managers. This project is expected to run initially for 2 years from Autumn 2007, with possible national roll-out if further funding can be secured.

We would be keen to hear from you if you were interested in pursuing any type of consultancy activity in the Criminal Justice System, for example, service audits, training needs analyses, service evaluations or specialist mental health advice. Please contact either Katherine Onion (01522 886949) or Charlie Brooker (07843 658966).