Transferring children and young people from custody to hospital under the Mental Health Act: new guidance from the Department of Health

shutterstock_17601 teenage boy prison detention custody

This new best practice guidance from the Department of Health details the procedure for transferring to and from hospital (under the Mental Health Act 1983 in England) any child or young person who is:

  • detained in custody in pursuance of any sentence or order for detention (by a court in criminal proceedings); or
  • remanded in custody (by a court in criminal proceedings) or who is otherwise detained in custody.

The guidance aims to help colleagues to work together more effectively in order to ensure timely transfer of mentally disordered young people and avoid unacceptable delays. With the recent expansion in the number of secure psychiatric beds for children and young people nationally, good practice indicates that transfers should be completed within seven days.

Procedure for the Transfer from Custody of Children and Young People to and from Hospital under the Mental Health Act 1983 in England (PDF). Department of Health, 1st Aug 2011.

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Andre Tomlin

André Tomlin is an Information Scientist with 20 years experience working in evidence-based healthcare. He's worked in the NHS, for Oxford University and since 2002 as Managing Director of Minervation Ltd, a consultancy company who do clever digital stuff for charities, universities and the public sector. Most recently André has been the driving force behind the Mental Elf and the National Elf Service; an innovative digital platform that helps professionals keep up to date with simple, clear and engaging summaries of evidence-based research. André is a Trustee at the Centre for Mental Health and an Honorary Research Fellow at University College London Division of Psychiatry. He lives in Bristol, surrounded by dogs, elflings and lots of woodland!

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