Masterclass on Conditional and Absolute discharge

On Tuesday 24th of May we were joined by a host of speakers from across the country to discuss conditional discharges and how Independent Mental Health Advocates and practitioners can support individuals who are subject to this section.

Perspectives were shared by legal experts, approved clinicians, the Ministry of Justice, Independent Mental Health Advocates (IMHA), family, friends, and most importantly, those with lived experience. We also launched new resources including information for conditionally discharged patients in plain English, guidance for family members and guidance for IMHA’s to support conditionally discharged patients. There is also a patient’s rights easy read in development.

Speakers included 39 Essex Chambers Barrister Neil Allen, Associate Director of Nursing Christine Hutchinson, Mike Nolan the Head of Team 2 in the Mental Health Casework Section of the Ministry of Justice, and Roger Banks who is the National Clinical Director of Learning Disability and Autism at NHS England.

You can find below the resources mentioned during the event, and we welcome you to share these widely through your networks to ensure all who need this information have access to it:

Brand new IMHA resources

Advocacy Focus – Conditionally Discharged Presentation Workshops slides

Conditional Discharge Rights Launch

Submit a discharge request for restricted patients 

Unlock – Advocacy service for people with criminal records

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards Practical Guide

Working with restricted patients GOV.UK

If you attended our event and haven’t completed the evaluation form, you can find it here

If you are a professional working with people who are conditionally discharged, the updated practice guidance can be found here

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