Recurring concern
Failure to recognise and respond to prisoners’ disability and neurodiversity-related needs
- Reports that mention this concern
- 9
- Times this concern has been raised
- 10
- Stated actions linked to this concern
- 15
What this concern includes
Includes staff awareness, training, resources, recognition, adjustments and support arrangements directly concerned with prisoners’ physical, learning, developmental, personality-disorder or neurodiversity-related needs.
What is not included
- Generic prison staff training with no disability or neurodiversity connection
- Clinical treatment failures unrelated to recognition or accommodation of these needs
- Community disability support outside custodial settings
Trends
Reports over time
Reports mentioning this concern, over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Reports and published responses 9 reports
See individual reports that have raised this concern, and the actions taken in response
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Concerns raised1
Lack of diabetes training and awareness among Prison Service staff
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- Department of Health and Social Care
- HM Prison and Probation Service
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
HM Prison and Probation Service
Discussed local diabetes awareness needs with the healthcare provider at HMP The Verne.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
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HM Prison and Probation Service
Requiring all operational prison staff to undertake diabetes-specific training is unnecessary because training time is prioritised for higher-priority or broadly applicable topics.
-
Department of Health and Social Care
Training, guidance and diabetes awareness for prison staff are to be addressed by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of mandatory neurodiversity training for prison staff
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- Eastwood Park Prison and Young Offender Institution
- HM Prison and Probation Service
- Ministry of Justice
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
-
Eastwood Park Prison and Young Offender Institution and HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Justice
Provide neurodiversity training through core training, online modules and local staff induction.
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Eastwood Park Prison and Young Offender Institution and HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Justice
Employ Neurodiversity Support Managers to provide staff support and implement whole-prison neurodiversity processes and reasonable adjustments.
-
Eastwood Park Prison and Young Offender Institution and HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Justice
Develop and make the National Neurodiversity Training Toolkit available to frontline prison and probation staff.
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Eastwood Park Prison and Young Offender Institution and HM Prison and Probation Service and Ministry of Justice
Employ a Speech and Language Therapist and Neurodiversity Strategic Lead at Eastwood Park.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of prison staff training and awareness on personality disorder and learning disability
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of appropriate resources for maintaining neurodiversity management work
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- HM Prison and Probation Service
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
-
HM Prison and Probation Service
Appoint a Band 6 neurodiversity support manager to raise staff awareness and provide toolkit-based training.
-
Concerns raised2
Lack of disability awareness among prison staff
Lack of accessible documentation of required disability adjustments
Linked responses
- HM Prison and Probation Service
- Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
-
HM Prison and Probation Service
Hold monthly disability-awareness training for operational staff, covering visible and non-visible disabilities, engagement, support, and access to adjustment documentation.
-
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
Document required disability adjustments on the Prison Nomis system, accessible to prison, healthcare and social-care providers.
-
Concerns raised1
Insufficient understanding of the special needs and vulnerabilities of prisoners within the autistic spectrum
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
-
Avon and Somerset Constabulary
Training on autistic prisoners’ needs is directed solely to the Prison Service and does not require a response from the Chief Constable.
-
Concerns raised1
Failure of discipline and healthcare staff to recognise prisoners’ deafness
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked responses
- Care UK
- HM Prison and Probation Service
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.5
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HM Prison and Probation Service
Publish frontline staff guidance on disability and reasonable adjustments.
-
HM Prison and Probation Service
Refresh the disability categorisation system with MOJ colleagues so NOMIS records are more efficient and descriptive than the existing yes-or-no method.
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HM Prison and Probation Service
Develop a digital resource tool to collect personalised prisoner information and help staff identify appropriate adjustments.
-
Care UK
Change healthcare communication systems by involving senior management in unusual cases, increasing equalities referrals and recording wing conversations in medical records.
-
Care UK
Implement the Health and Wellbeing model at HMP Pentonville as an additional safety net for patients entering prison.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of staff training and guidance for supporting prisoners with Asperger’s
This report raised 11 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Linked response
- HM Prison and Probation Service
Stated actions An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
-
HM Prison and Probation Service
Deliver awareness events to improve staff confidence supporting prisoners with learning disabilities and other identified needs.
-
HM Prison and Probation Service
Develop and provide a learning-disability support toolkit with guidance and practical resources for prison and probation operational leaders.
-
Concerns raised1
Lack of psychological therapy identification and treatment for prisoners with personality disorders or related traits
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
No linked response statementsNo respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Actions and positions describe what organisations say in published responses. Implementation is not independently verified.
Data last updated 7 September 2026