Evaluation of the Mental Health/Alcohol and Other Drug Watch-house Nurse Pilot Initiative

The Watch-house Nurse (WHN) initiative began operating at the Christchurch Central and Counties Manukau Police station watch-houses on 1 July 2008 and 1 August 2008 respectively. The initiative is intended to run as a pilot project until 30 June 2010. The initiative places appropriately qualified nurses within these two watch-houses to assist the Police to better manage the risks of those in their custody who have mental health, alcohol or other drug (AOD) problems. Where appropriate, the nurses also make referrals for detainees to treatment providers.

This final evaluation report presents the findings about the WHN initiative during its first 18 months of operation. In doing so, it addresses the main objectives of the pilot, and intended outcomes of these objectives in turn.