RESETTLEMENT
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Resettlement is the focus of
everything that's done at Altcourse. It's also central to the Prison
Service Statement of Purpose which talks about "…helping
prisoners to lead law-abiding lives in prison and on release".
So Resettlement is everything that Altcourse does for prisoners and
with prisoners to bring about this end. Which means that Resettlement
is also about the protection of the public.
At Altcourse, two groups of staff have a particular responsibility
for resettlement. The Probation Team co-ordinate the resettlement
of those prisoners who will be released on licence, and the newly-formed
Resettlement Team prioritise work with those sentenced to less than
12 months and who receive no statutory support or supervision on release,
and those |
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| Inmate
on the unit |
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currently on remand. But all
aspects of the regime, especially Education, Industries, Facilities,
Kitchens and Programmes, make a contribution to Resettlement - particularly
if what a prisoner does whilst at Altcourse can be validated in the
form of a recognised qualification.
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Central to successful resettlement will
be ensuring that a released prisoner has somewhere to live, and either
a job or a training place to go to. Experience (and common sense)
tells us that without these there is a much greater likelihood of
his re-offending. Resettlement staff will see all prisoners soon after
they arrive at Altcourse to assess their resettlement needs and to
draw up a resettlement Action Plan (or a Sentence Plan for those serving
longer sentences). This will focus on what they need to do whilst
in custody to make it less likely that they will come back! Where
appropriate, attention is also given to factors such as family ties,
health, substance misuse, social and life skills and financial management.
Specialist staff such as those delivering programmes and those addressing
substance misuse issues are also drawn into the team effort that is
resettlement.
A series of Offending Behaviour Programmes help prisoners to look
at the attitudes and thinking which lie behind their offending, and
give them the opportunity to make changes. Much hard work is required
as long-established attitudes, values and ways of living are not easily
changed.
The Prison Service has put Resettlement at the heart of its agenda.
Life at HMP Altcourse reflects this priority. It gives every person
held in custody the opportunity to plan for and work towards a crime-free
life on release.
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