Support for prisoners - changes under the Care Act

The Care Act makes clear where responsibility lies for assessing the care and support needs of adult prisoners, for providing care and support where those needs meet eligibility criteria, and also for transferring that care back into the community at sentence end.

A council is responsible for assessing and meeting the care and support needs of prisoners in any prisons located in their area. The responsibility will no longer rest with the council in the area from where a prisoner came.

After the assessment, the council will determine whether the person is eligible for care and support using the same eligibility criteria used for people living in the community. If the person is assessed as having needs which meet those criteria, the council will be required to meet those needs.

And you can read more in our Support for Offenders pages.