How EDP works with prisoners families Family Support Work How EDP works with prisoners families

EDP aims to improve the health, wellbeing and employability of individuals and their families affected by substance misuse, mental health issues, and other harmful addictive and offending behaviour. A fundamental belief underpinning our work is that, given the right support and resources, people can and do make remarkable changes

FSW Job Role at edp The aim for EDP’s Family support Workers within prisons is to help prisoners, who are misusing substances and who are engaging with the Substance Misuse Team to live fulfilling, law abiding lives whilst promoting and encouraging recovery, through the development of appropriate family* relationships for motivation and support. . The Family Support Worker’s role is to ensure that prisoners and their families are offered practical and emotional support. Some prisoners may feel they do not have the skills or knowledge to ensure their relationships are as functional as possible. All work completed is done through partnership working with the prisoner and family, the prisoner will take the lead on the work, i.e. the worker will not undertake tasks for the family, but encourage them to problem solve by giving advice or signposting them to relevant agencies and voluntary organisations. This family lead centred approach encourages the family to enable themselves to become a sustainable family* unit during the prisoners planned recovery, release from custody and family life. *This can be either a parent, child, sibling, extended family or a significant other who has or have a significant impact on the individuals life

I have included this quote in here as it highlights the strength that our human connections can have on ability to deal with stresses and overcome our own individual barriers in life. The quote comes from a writer who…

Why we work with prisoners and their families The aim is to reduce the chance of relapse of re-offending by strengthened family relationships to end their offending behaviour, and People come to prison for a variety variety of reasons why people decide of reasons. Equally, there are a substance misuse. The majority of prisoners report their priorities are their families and/or partners. Support in setting achievable and clear expectations of family life Promoting recovery by keeping the family ties.

EDP family Workers in the prison estate HMP Channings Wood, Devon HMP Dartmoor, Devon HMP Exeter, Devon HMP Guys Marsh, Dorset HMP/YOI Portland, Dorset EDP work in partnership with Dorset Healthcare to provide recovery orientated Substance Misuse Services in 5 of the South West regions prisons HMP Channings Wood, Devon HMP Dartmoor, Devon HMP Exeter, Devon HMP Guys Marsh, Dorset HMP/YOI Portland, Dorset Within each establishment FSW is the same but also slightly different. In Remand prisons like Exeter, there can be a fast turn over of prisoners at. Some prisoner will be a on a short stay, while they awaiting a trail or sentencing. So as fast as work can start here, it can stop. However, Exeter is also key for its support in working with families when a prisoner first comes to prison. Not only in supporting the family understand the situation, but also in helping the prisoner start to look at continuing to maintain family ties. In a resettlement prison like Channing Wood, focus can be more aimed at the prisoner returning to the family. Making sure that agencies are aware of the prisoner release In a longer stay prison such as Dartmoor, I find that the majority of my referrals are for people who need to maintain relationships during their sentence or who would like to start looking at rebuilding their relationships. Often relationships have broken down due to substance misuse, crime or time apart.

believes that their risk of re-offending will reduce if their Who can we help When a prisoner believes that their risk of re-offending will reduce if their family relationships can be improved. Family is struggling with their loved one being in prison, wants to part of the recovery plan or needs reassurance of what is happening and planned for the prisoner’s release. family or limited contact with family. Poor/strained relations with Consent from the prisoner to engage with FSW. Verbal consent from family* and willingness to engage. Prisoner is allowed contact with family* and it is appropriate to do so. The prisoner has no restrictions in Relation to contact with children.

How we offer this support Family Assessment and social support network mapping Structured Work 1 to 1 Awareness groups Signposting Informal Advice Multi-Agency working Direct Family Contact So how do we offer this support to families? 1:1 structured work

So what can the FSW practically do when working with the prisoner and their family*? Will work with both the prisoner and the family in a family centred and lead approach Strength based Family relationship development and resilience Emotional stability and sustainability Build family confidence and self-esteem Advice, signposting and referrals on family issues. Group Work/workshops Multi-agency approach

Challenges Time Proximity Prisoner and families previous experience Stigma and isolation Changing population Knowing local services for families Services understanding our role Prisoners and families not know how to help Firstly we are dealing with what would be considered some of the most at risk type of families -lone parents -families in poverty and workless households -parents with drug and alcohol problems -families with a parent involved in criminal activity or in prison. Time both us and families. Pressures on families. Proximity – some of the prisoners families will not live near Prisoner and families previous experience – prisoners previous experience feeling undervalued or unwelcome. Prisoners reporting of officers can impact on how the families view all prison staff. Stigma and isolation Changing population Knowing local services for families Services understanding our role

Overcoming these Time Proximity Prisoner and families previous experience Stigma and isolation Changing population Knowing local services for families Services understanding our role Prisoners and families not know how to help

FSW and the prison community EDP working alongside visits providers EDP support continued training for staff Continue to promote services within the prison to prisoners and their families Attend Family Days and visits centre to encourage professional relationship building Encourage continued multi-agency working