Circles Advocacy Glasgow operate in the forensic wards within Rowanbank Clinic and Leverndale Hospital and provide community-based advocacy for up to three months after people have been discharged.
A key part of the forensic system, our Glasgow Advocacy has a very clear focus supporting those who have been passed onto us as their local advocacy partner from the criminal justice system.
Rowanbank Clinic is a medium secure facility, where as Leverndale Hospital is a low secure facility. Often, people are transferred in from a high secure state hospital, mainly within Scotland. Detained under the Mental Health Act.
Instead of referrals we do a ward drop-in, where introductions and new admissions are made. People have the right to use our services but they don’t have it – it’s their choice. Transfers are made into the ward either from a high secure facility or direct from prison due to deterioration of their health.
We support anyone over the age of 16 who is engaged in the forensic system in the West of Scotland.
Many of the people we work have a compulsion order with restriction order which authorises their detention in hospital. They usually come to us because they have either become unwell during their sentence or have longstanding mental health issues, such as schizophrenia, extreme bipolar disorder, challenging behaviour that’s escalated in the community and other conditions. People can come into the facility to receive treatment and then go back to prison, so it can be a temporary measure. However, there have been cases where a person has been supported on ward for 3 years.
Our approach is truly holistic and thorough, we offer:
• 24-7 nursing staff support - all day and all night
• Access to an occupational therapist - to ensure that their skills are maintained during their time on the ward. We provide cooking sessions, admin classes to ensure their bills are paid, jewellery making, budgeting and more.
We promote their independence by offering training and encourage their participation in these workshops - helping them to remain in control of their skills and development over time. With ongoing assessment to monitor their functional skills over time.
• Psychology input - assessing, providing intervention, rehabilitation, coping strategies and self-awareness mechanisms so they can self-score and learn about themselves, as well as support understanding their own triggers so deescalation can happen earlier, preventing breakdown.
• A safe space to ensure their views are heard, taking the time to understand what they would like from their care plans and making sure that’s fed in.
Our advocates are heavily involved with the person to make sure their thoughts and feelings are expressed. That may be when attending court, so that they have the right information and know their rights, which is free from legal jargon so it’s easier to understand what is going on. Our services can also be spot purchased to support transition out of the ward to prison, or out of prison and into a housing situation.
To have a say in, and about, the services they receive.
We are inclusive in our approach and support people from all backgrounds, and who are prisoners receiving health care under the Mental Health Act 2003 for Care & Treatment in Scotland.
Positive experiences of Circles Advocacy in Glasgow.
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Opening Hours
Monday to Friday
9am – 5pm
Access our Advocacy services, reach out to Alana today.
alana.craigmile@nhs.scot
Please leave a message if you’re unable to get through on the phone, we will call you back, our voicemail is checked daily.
