Psychiatrist members

Assessing the risk a person represents to society is the single most important thing we do at the Parole Board. In making these assessments, we recognise the value of the scientific approach taken by trained and experienced Psychiatrists. Their skills are absolutely indispensable to support, underpin and provide theoretical backup for the decisions we make.

Psychiatrist members usually have experience in forensic psychiatry. They can offer strong analytical and organisational skills, as well as the ability to interpret volumes of complex information and convey your arguments clearly and precisely.

Claire Barkley

I have worked within mental health services in the NHS for 23 years and specialise in forensic psychiatry. My current role is working with men who have both mental health and risk issues, treated by the NHS in conditions of low and medium security. I also work as part of a forensic liaison team advising mental health colleagues in Shropshire. Additionally I have been involved in providing specialist mental health care to women's prisons for sixteen years.

My work on the Board over the past six years has broadened my knowledge of the criminal justice system and especially of the work of prisons and the probation service. Most offenders are not mentally ill although many have do have complex needs, personality and coping difficulties and substance dependency. It has helped my clinical practice to see a wider range of prisoners.

I find the oral hearings particularly rewarding in that the evidence on the day can sometimes illuminate a situation sufficiently to turn around my preliminary view of the case. There is no substitute for being able to hear from, and ask questions of the prisoner.

The Parole Board for England and Wales

Grenadier House, 99-105 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2DX

Telephone 0845 251 2220