Supporting CSTR Programme Development and Practice

Since 2017, the IPSCJ has been supporting the Community Sentence Treatment Requirement (CSTR) through local evaluation and the creation of practice documentation aimed at Clinical Leads and Primary Care Practitioners.

CSTR Programme Documentation

The documents available through this page support the development of Sites with the aim of increasing the use of Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTR). These sites are focusing on reducing reoffending by increasing the use of the three treatment requirements which are available to the Judiciary at the point of sentence to a community order, these requirements include: Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTR), Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) and Alcohol Treatment Requirements (ATR).

Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) Operating and Commissioning Framework: This Framework supports the scale up of MHTRs with the ambition to: Reduce reoffending by addressing the underlying mental health and social issues which may be contributing towards the offending behaviours and providing an alternative to short custodial sentences. It describes how health, social care and justice services should work together to ensure vulnerable offenders (particularly those with mental health needs) receive the mental health and social support they require. This updated document now provides commissioners advice on the set up and development of a new MHTR service.

Secondary Care Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) Guidance and Executive Summary: This Service Description is to be used in conjunction with the Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) Operating and Commissioning Framework. It provides guidance for Psychiatrists, Steering Groups, Liaison and Diversion services, Probation and secondary care mental health providers on facilitating access to MHTRs in conjunction with a community sentence for individuals whose mental health needs cross the secondary care threshold.

Clinical Lead MHTR Manual: This resource is aimed at and has been developed in collaboration with Clinical Leads to support the development of Mental Health Treatment Requirement (MHTR) pathways, processes and protocols across England and Wales. Clinical Leads may wish to share this document with Primary Care MHTR Practitioners within the local site.

Primary Care MHTR Practitioner Manual: This guidance manual has been produced to help Primary Care MHTR Practitioners in the delivery of Primary Care Mental Health Treatment Requirements (MHTR) under a Community Order sentence or a Suspended Order. It supplements the Clinical Leads Manual, which outlines further information about MHTRs, the intervention and the role of the Clinical Lead.

Alcohol Treatment Requirement (ATR) and Drug Rehabilitation Requirement (DRR) Guidance: This Service Description is to be used in conjunction with the Community Sentence Treatment Requirements (CSTR) Operating Framework and provides guidance to commissioners, providers and CSTR steering group members on the increased use of Drug Rehabilitation Requirements (DRRs) and Alcohol Treatment Requirements (ATRs). An increase in these requirements can only be achieved through a consistent approach across all new and developing CSTR sites, through an integrated and formalised partnership with the relevant criminal justice/health/substance misuse and social support partners in each site.

Practice and Ethical Guidance for Clinical Staff Supporting Trans Clients Sentenced to Mental Health Treatment Requirements: The aim of this document is to provide an overview of clinical and ethical guidance when working with trans clients across the MHTR pathway, particularly those where single sex spaces are used. This document also aims to inform those working to increase the use of MHTRs and colleagues working in all non-NHS settings to provide an overview of gender-affirming and inclusive practice when working with trans clients, particularly when working in single sex spaces, as well as increasing the understanding of trans rights and to aid self-awareness. The information set out in this document is based on legislation, including the Equality Act 2010.