Prison social care
The Prison Social Care Team is a dedicated multidisciplinary team providing support across Kent’s prisons.
Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are responsible for assessing and meeting the eligible care and support needs of individuals in custody. The team works collaboratively with prison staff, healthcare, probation, and community services to ensure coordinated care for individuals in custody.
What we do
We provide a range of social care services within the prison environment, including:
- social care and occupational therapy assessments
- care planning and support
- provision of carers (formal and informal)
- equipment provision (for example, grab rails, shower stools and profiling beds)
- support to access prison services and activities
- release planning and transition support
- preparation for parole board hearings.
All support is delivered in line with prison safety and security requirements.
To request an assessment from the team to meet care and support needs and/or equipment needs whilst the person is in prison, email the social care prison team SocialCarePrisons@kent.gov.uk .
Prisons in Kent that we cover
- HMP East Sutton Park (women's prison)
- HMP Elmley (men's prison)
- HMP Maidstone (men's prison)
- HMP Standford Hill (men's prison)
- HMP Swaleside (men's prison).
Care Act 2014 eligibility criteria
Under the Care Act 2014, you may be eligible for care and support if:
- you have needs arising from, or related to, a physical or mental impairment or illness
- because of these needs, you are unable to achieve 2 or more of the following:
- managing and maintaining nutrition - in prison this may relate to accessing the servery
- maintaining personal hygiene - in prison this may be accessing communal showers
- managing toilet needs
- being appropriately clothed
- being able to make use of the home safely (home refers to the cell)
- maintaining a habitable home environment (home refers to the cell)
- developing and maintaining family or other personal relationships
- accessing and engaging in work, training, education or volunteering
- making use of necessary facilities or services in the local community, including public transport and recreational facilities. In prison this refers to the prison environment, for example visits, chapel, library and appointments outside of prison, such as visiting the hospital
- carrying out any caring responsibilities the adult has for a child.
- this has, or is likely to have a significant impact on your wellbeing.
Referrals
Referrals can be made by:
- prisoners (self-referral)
- prison staff
- healthcare or probation services
- social care teams
- other support services
- friends and family.
If you are deaf, live with hearing loss or live with dual sensory impairment. This is also known as deafblind or deafblindness.
For assistance you can request an assessment with our Sensory Services.
Refer a friend or family member
The person you are contacting us about must be:
- over 18 years old
- in a Kent prison.
Complete our online self-referral form
Make a professional referral
To complete a professional referral using our online form you must:
- be referring in your professional capacity
- ensure the person is aware of your referral to us.
By making a referral online, you will be providing us with the relevant information and this will allow us to support in the right way, as quickly as possible.
Complete our professional referral form
Person leaving prison: requiring a care package
- If the person has served their sentence in a prison outside of Kent, and wishes to return to Kent as this was their former residence, has family connections, or wishes to choose Kent as their new residence then a referral to Adult Social Care Connect will need to be made.
- If the person is in a Kent prison and requires a care package to support their release back into a Kent community, please refer to the social care prison team.
Email: socialcareprisons@kent.gov.uk
Person leaving prison: Approved Premises (AP) from a Kent prison
- If a person is in one of the above 5 Kent prisons is released to an AP within Kent, then the social care prison team can support the person (if known whilst in prison).
- If the person is not known to the prison social care team before release, then a referral would need to be made to Adult Social Care Connect if they are released to a Kent AP.
- Should the person be released from a prison outside of Kent to the Kent AP then a referral would need to be made to Adult Social Care Connect.