London Pathway Progression Unit Information For Prisoners Dear

london pathway progression unit information for prisoners dear ==== you have received this pack because you offender manager, or

London Pathway Progression Unit
Information for Prisoners
Dear
====
You have received this pack because you Offender Manager, or a
specialist in your Probation office, has considered you might be
appropriate for the London Pathway Progression Unit at HMP Belmarsh.
If they have not yet discussed this with you then it is understandable
that you might want to speak to them before speaking with us and we
would just ask that you let your Offender Supervisor know.
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This pack aims to outline what the unit is about, who it is for and
what coming here entails. The pack has been developed by the service
providers but also incorporates what the men in our service have told
us is important to know in making your decision about whether or not
to come to the unit. It also includes a timetable for the unit and two
compacts. The consent and confidentiality compact we would expect you
to sign, the PIN compact is optional.
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One of the team will be speaking to you in the near future, either by
video link or teleconference, to give you the opportunity to ask any
questions and explore further any details of the service with you.
Your Offender Supervisor can also contact us through the Prison
Service email system or by telephone to ask any questions or gather
more information.
You can write to us if you wish at:
HMP Belmarsh
Western Way
Thamesmead
London
SE28 0EB
We hope to have the opportunity to work with you over the remainder of
your sentence towards a successful release.
Yours Faithfully
What is The Unit?
=================
The Progression Unit is a unit for 41 men whose history indicates
longstanding emotional and relationship difficulties, some of whom may
have a personality disorder. The unit aims to help its prisoners have
the best chance of successful release.
The unit is integrated with the community services provided by London
Probation Trust (LPT) and the London Pathway Partnership (LPP), a
consortium of NHS mental health trusts. This means that, if you come
to the unit, you will receive support that continues into the
community.
The unit is located at HMP Belmarsh to ensure that all categories of
prisoner can access it. Its staff have volunteered to work there, have
been assessed as suitable for the role and have received training to
enable them to help you work towards safe release.
If you come to the unit, you and staff will together work to
understand your difficulties, offending and risk factors, and you will
have the opportunity to develop skills and strategies to enable you to
have a good quality of life in the community and avoid re-offending.
The unit aims to bridge the transition to the community by helping you
develop relationships, and an understanding of yourself as a person,
that you can take with you into the community after release.
Relationships may have been problematic for you in the past, and the
unit will help you to develop more supportive and rewarding
relationships with important people in your life, both friends/family
and professionals.
What Does the LPPU Offer?
The aim of the unit is to enable you to progress safely to the
community along an individual release pathway, with a reduced risk of
re-offending and improved psychological health and wellbeing.
The unit’s approach is based on research into desistance from
offending. Desistance is the process of change in which, over time, an
offender stops offending and develops a non-offending way of life. It
is about you as an individual, your life to this point, and your hopes
and aspirations for the future.
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The unit is integrated into the prison regime and you can access work,
education and training opportunities, drug & alcohol interventions,
assistance with life skills, healthcare, and accommodation support. On
the unit you will be helped to understand yourself and how your
personality and other factors contribute to your risk of reoffending.
You can learn how to use relationships and support more effectively,
and can develop skills for coping with situations that ‘push your
buttons’ or lead you into trouble. Part of being on the unit involves
learning how to get along with people you may not like or particularly
want to be with. During your time on the unit you will develop a
‘desistance plan’ to support you after release.
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Your feedback and involvement will be important , and there will be
regular meetings to consider current stresses, resettlement plans and
opportunities for peer support. We have found that this can sometimes
be a new experience for men but we value your contribution to
developing the service.
In time you may have the opportunity to facilitate formal and/or
informal group sessions. Your Offender Manager (who will have had
additional training) will come to the unit regularly to build a
working relationship that will support you in managing community
living after release.
Who is the LPPU For?
All prisoners coming to the unit agree to do so, there are no
compulsory transfers.
You may be suitable for referral to the unit if:
*
Your case is held by London Probation Trust and you are likely to
be released to London
*
You have between 9 and 24 months left to serve
*
You have been assessed as high risk for violent or sexual
reoffending and high or very high risk of harm at some point in
your sentence.
*
You have longstanding emotional and relationship difficulties
*
There is an identifiable link between those difficulties and your
risk
*
The unit is the most appropriate place to facilitate your
progression
You may also be considered if:
*
The unit would be part of a planned release pathway from a secure
hospital to prison
*
You need further support to achieve a progressive parole board
recommendation and the unit will help you to achieve this
*
You have been recalled to prison
The LPPU may not be suitable for you if:
*
There are irresolvable conflicts with other prisoners or staff at
Belmarsh
*
You would be better placed on a Vulnerable Prisoner Unit
*
You require enhanced staffing due to your risk of violence
*
Your needs can be better met elsewhere
*
The benefit of being on the unit is not clear
*
You need a drug or alcohol detoxification
*
Your current establishment will not agree to accept you back if
you leave the unit in the first 6 months.
Frequently Asked Questions
--------------------------
Q: Will I have to share a cell?
-------------------------------
A: No all cells are single occupancy on the unit
------------------------------------------------
Q: Why would I come there for two years, my Offender Manager won’t see
me until 6 months before release will they?
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A: Your Offender Managers will see you regularly throughout your time
on the unit. This enhanced relationship is a key element of the unit’s
approach and will continue after your release.
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Q: But isn’t Belmarsh a Cat A jail?
-----------------------------------
A: Belmarsh is part of the High Security Estate but as a ‘core local’
it accommodates men of all categories. Transferring to Belmarsh will
not change your individual security category.
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Q: Why wouldn’t I just go to Brixton? That’s a resettlement prison.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
A: Brixton, and many other prisons, offer good resettlement provision
for prisoners using traditional resettlement opportunities. Men who
come to the unit generally require something different. We will work
with you in a more psychologically-informed way, to address your
individual needs and concerns. This will enable both you and staff in
prison and the community to work towards a successful release.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: So do I become enhanced if I come to the unit?
A: No, the unit name describes the additional support you will be
getting in preparation for release and is not linked to the Incentives
and Earned Privileges Scheme. You will retain your existing IEP level
on transfer and can be on any level of the IEP scheme whilst on the
unit.
Q: Is there an open door policy?
A: The expectation is that men will spend their time at work or other
activity, unit related groups or key work sessions. Where you are
legitimately not engaged in any of those your cell will be open during
the on spur activity periods shown in the timetable. This does not
apply to weekend afternoons where phone calls will be facilitated and
some of the unit each afternoon will be able to be involved in
creative sessions.
Q: But I don’t have a personality disorder.
-------------------------------------------
A: You don’t have to have a diagnosis of personality disorder to come
to the unit. You probably do have long-term emotional and
interpersonal difficulties that may or may not amount to a personality
disorder. It is important that you know we will not diagnose you but
will work with you to better manage the feelings and behaviours that
have contributed to you being in prison now.
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Q: What about my property?
A: Volumetric control of in possession property will apply. You will
receive information about items allowed in possession before transfer.
We encourage you to hand out stored property before transfer where
possible, as you will be with us until release. If you aren’t near
friends and family now, you will have the opportunity to do this after
you arrive at Belmarsh. If you have no-one to hand property to, please
discuss this with us.
Q: What will you make me do while I am there?
A: The unit isn’t about making you do things. We do expect you to
engage with your Personal Officer, clinical staff and Offender Manager
to discuss your risk factors, desistance plan, release pathway and
progress in the unit. As a convicted prisoner you will be expected to
work or attend education but involvement in the group activities of
the unit is voluntary.
Q: So is this a course or some sort of treatment?
A: No this is not a course, a treatment or DSPD. The unit is an
environment which will enable you to develop relationships and
practise the skills to support you on release.
Q: What happens if it’s not for me?
A: We will work with you to try and overcome any reservations or
difficulties you are having on the unit. If the unit is not suitable
for you, you will return to your sending prison (within the first 6
months) or transfer to another allocation, possibly via a normal wing
at Belmarsh.
Q: Can I Talk to anyone from the LPPU?
A: Yes, as part of the referral we will speak to you (by video-link or
visit) and you can ask any questions you have. Your Offender Manager
or Offender Supervisor can also get you information.
What will happen on the Unit?
Structured Sessions
Groupwork sessions run on subjects such as “Understanding Your Risk”,
“Relational and Emotional Issues”, “Working with Anger” and
“Introduction to Mentalization”. Visiting speakers also present
sessions as relevant to the group at the time, these include sessions
from Probation and other groups about support in the community.
Key Work Sessions
You may be kept on the unit at any point to engage in a key work
session. This is a formal time with your key worker (like a more
available personal officer) but may also include your Offender
Supervisor, Offender Manager or member of the clinical team dependant
on what you are working on and what stage of the process you are at;
you can expect more intensive input at the start and end of the
process. It is to get to know you, create a plan for release and
review and update the plan.
You will have a key work session within 10 days of arrival on the
unit. If for any reason your Key worker is not available in this time
frame another Officer from your team will lead the session.
Creative Sessions
During Association and periods of unlock there are opportunities to
engage in unstructured activities as a group. These are led by the men
on the unit in the main and new ideas can be developed.
Activity off the Unit
All men on the unit will also be engaged in some form of work or
education. For the first 8-10 days this will be cleaning on the unit.
After that you will be able to apply for other work or education. The
work placements available are:
Contract Workshop Bricklaying Course BICS Course
Multi-Skills Course Wing Cleaner Recycling Workshop
Kitchen Corridor Cleaner Barbering Course
Pot Washer Insider Painter
Orderly Posts Yards Party Insider
Education offer a range of courses:
Personal and Social Development Art
Resettlement – Preparation for Work Business Enterprise
Personal Money Management Cooking and Nutrition
Drug and Alcohol Awareness ICT Computing
ESOL Numeracy and Literacy
Library Research
Other activities include:
Family Man STAR (Substance misuse) AIP
Aurelia Acupuncture AA and NA Job Club
Relate Debt & Finance Working Links
The Regime
We want to be as clear about the regime as possible, whilst we are
running a progression unit we are also operating within a local prison
and are bound by the overall regime times.
Visits
Domestic visits are 1 hour in length and are available as follows
AM
PM
Monday
No Visits
No Visits
Tuesday
No Visits
14:00-15:00
15:30-16:30 (VP)
Wednesday
09:30-10:30 (VP)
14:00-15:00
15:30-16:30
Thursday
09:30-10:30
14:00-15:00
15:30-16:30
Friday
09:30-10:30
14:00-15:00
15:30-16:30
Saturday
09:30 – 10:30 (VP)
14:00-15:00
15:30-16:30
Sunday
No Visits
14:00–15:00
15:30-16:30
Official Visits are available as follows:
AM
PM
Monday
No Visits
No Visits
Tuesday
09:00-10:15
10:15-11:30
14:00-15:15
15:15-16:30
Wednesday
09:00-10:15
10:15-11:30
14:00-15:15
15:15-16:30
Thursday
09:00-10:15
10:15-11:30
14:00-15:15
15:15-16:30
Friday
09:00-10:00
10:00-11:00
14:00-15:15
15:15-16:30
Domestic visits may be booked a minimum of 48 hours and a maximum of 2
weeks ahead of the visit. Visitors who have not booked in advance will
not be allowed into the establishment.
To make a telephone booking your visitors should call 0208 3314768.
The booking line is open as follows.
AM
PM
Sunday
Closed
13:15-16:15
Monday
Closed
Closed
Tuesday
08:15 - 11:30
13:00 – 16:45
Wednesday
08:15 - 11:30
13:00 – 16:45
Thursday
08:15 - 11:30
13:00 – 16:45
Friday
08:15 - 11:30
13:00 – 16:45
Saturday
08:45 - 11:45
13:15 - 16:15
When calling to book a visit your visitor will need
*
Your name
*
Your prison number
*
The date they want to visit
*
The full names, addresses and dates of birth of each person coming
to visit.
They will be given a booking reference number at the end of the call,
they must retain this and bring it with them as proof of the booking.
Visits can also be booked by email. Visitors should send their email
to [email protected] In the subject of the email they must put
your name, number and date of birth. In the body of the email they
must put the date they wish to visit, with alternatives if they have
them; the name, full address, date of birth and relationship to you of
each person visiting.
They will receive a reply confirming the visit and should bring this
with them on the day of the visit as your proof that they have booked.
People wishing to visit a Category A prisoner must be cleared through
the Approved Visitor Scheme (AVS). Visitors not cleared through AVS
will not be permitted to visit a category A prisoner.
Telephone Access
Access to telephones is available on the landing during periods of
unlock and on weekend afternoons through a booking system. As the LPPU
focuses on relationships and progression towards release into the
community with strong support networks it has been agreed that
prisoners within the unit can have a variation in their PIN Phone
access. The standard arrangement at HMP Belmarsh is that prisoners are
able to make 10 minute phone calls with an enforced period of 10
minutes before being able to make a further call.
The variation for prisoners on the unit will be that you can make a 15
minute phone call and then have a period of 5 minutes before you can
make a further call.
London Pathway Progression Unit
Consent and Confidentiality Form
Name: _________________________
===============================
Number:_________________________
Within the LPPU a number of professionals will be required to work
with you to make sure that a full range of services can be provided to
you. To make sure that your needs are met, it may be necessary for
professionals involved in working with you to consult with each other.
This may involve the need for relevant information about you held
within the Prison and Probation Services to be shared with staff and
managers working as part of the LPPU Multi Disciplinary Team and with
your Offender Manager. Such information will ensure that your ongoing
progression planning, the care you receive and your transition into
the community is appropriate to your needs. Information may also be
shared for the purpose of ensuring the safety of others. Only the
minimum level of information necessary will be released on any
occasion. Typical information sources might be: your main prison
record, your psychology file, your sentence planning records or
information held by your offender manager. This is not an exhaustive
list.
Information cannot be treated confidentially, and will be shared with
the prison authorities, where it constitutes something in the list
below. General information from work you do whilst on the LPPU will be
used in the completion of reports and be shared with OMU and your
Offender Manager
*
Behaviour that is against prison rules and can be adjudicated.
*
Undisclosed illegal acts.
*
Behaviour that is harmful to the prisoner (e.g. intention to
self-harm or commit suicide).
*
Information that raises concerns about terrorist, radicalisation
or security issues.
*
Information that raises concern about the harm they pose to
another person in custody or upon release.
Information about you may be used, anonymously, in the course of
research and evaluation. This will be used in a general way so that
you cannot be identified. This may lead to publication of the finding
and conclusions of the work. Should further disclosure be necessary
you will be asked to agree to the specific research. You can withdraw
consent to future disclosure at any time by application to the LPPU
Custodial Manager
Please sign and date below to confirm that you understand and agree to
the above. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time.
However, up until the point of withdrawal, all information you have
provided will be used and kept in your prison files.
I have read the above and have been able to discuss it.
I do/do not understand the limit of confidentiality
I am / am not* willing for information held about me by London
Probation Trust and the Prison Service to be shared with the LPPU team
and my Offender Manager.
I am/am not* willing for anonymous information about me to be used in
the course of research and evaluation. I understand that this will not
impact on my selection to the LPPU or progression.
Sign: ________________________
Date: ________________________
Witness: ________________________ (Name & Grade)
*delete as applicable
London Pathway Progression Unit
Extended PIN Access Compact
Name: _________________________
===============================
Number: _________________________
As the LPPU focuses on relationships and progression towards release
into the community with strong support networks it has been agreed
that prisoners within the LPPU can have a variation in their PIN Phone
access. The standard arrangement at HMP Belmarsh is that prisoners are
able to make 10 minute phone calls with an enforced period of 10
minutes before being able to make a further call.
The variation for prisoners on the LPPU will be that you can make a 15
minute phone call and then have a period of 5 minutes before you can
make a further call. This variation will be made to your personal PIN
account and so there is a requirement for you to agree to some
personal responsibility. In order to receive the variation to the
account you must agree to abide by the points below:
*
To have consideration for other men on the unit in your use of the
telephone, particularly during periods of association.
*
To regulate your own use of the phone to 10 minutes when using
phones outside the unit, e.g. in workshops or other activity
areas.
*
That should you be downgraded to Basic Regime the removal of this
variation will be considered
*
That this variation will remain under review by the LPPU team and
should it become impractical within the unit, or is impacted by a
policy change outside the unit, it may be changed.
*
That should you not comply with the conditions of this compact
your individual access to the variation may be removed.
I agree / do not agree* to the conditions of this compact.
Sign: ________________________
Date: ________________________
Witness: ________________________ (Name & Grade)
*delete as applicable