Decision report 201004487

Summary
Mr C was in prison and had been assessed as requiring one-to-one psychological treatment. He complained that there was an unacceptable delay in getting this. We asked the SPS to comment. They explained that they have had difficulties arranging one-to-one work because of major staff shortages, although they are taking steps to resolve this. They also considered whether Mr C’s needs could be met through group work instead of one-to-one work. A psychologist met him and arranged for an assessment to take place that would let the SPS decide whether he was suitable to take part in a programme, on which he would receive first priority if considered suitable.  We know from other complaints that shortage of psychology staff is a long-standing problem in some prisons and that to some extent resolving the issue is outwith the control of the individual prison concerned. What we had to examine here was whether the prison concerned had done anything to sort out the problem. The information we saw as a result of our investigation satisfied us that the prison had done what they reasonably could and so the delay was not their fault. We did not uphold Mr C’s complaint.