Development News
The recognition of good work is just the starting point for some of the major award winners who can participate in our development programme.
What can award winners expect to gain from participating in our development programme?
- Expert support by The Butler Trust for professional and personal development
- Special leave for this purpose by their employers
- Funding of up to £2,000
- Networking opportunities with other high achieving staff in the Correctional Services
- Link to Best Practice Conferences/Seminars page
- Visits and exchanges, nationally and internationally, to gather and share models of best practice
- Further recognition from their peers
Turning the plan into action
Inevitably the opportunities to develop award-winning work are limitless, but they require time and commitment and a little support from the Trust. Staff who win awards are generally busy people – one of the many reasons that they are successful and have been recognised. Often, there is little spare capacity for them to spend time on something to benefit other establishments.
The Trust works at policy and operational management level to encourage and promote a culture of recognition, celebration, sharing and development within and across UK Correctional Services.
2006 award winners who have been quick off the mark
- Claire Doughty and Linda Wallbank (Lord Woolf Award, HMP Kirkham) have visited three establishments in Holland which offer varying levels of reintegration for offenders with a view to incorporating best practice into their resettlement work at Kirkham.
- Doris Williamson (Development Award, HMP Barlinnie) has used part of her grant from the Trust to train two of her mental health team in Emotional Freedom Techniques which will help individuals to work through anxieties which prevent relaxation.
- Tony Plane (Court Escort Award, HMP Manchester) is undertaking a review for the Deputy Director General of court escorting procedures at Category A establishments.
- Sex Offender Treatment Programme team (Terry Waite Award, HMP Whatton) have been able to equip a counselling room for debriefing facilitators who have run courses. It will also serve as a quiet room after particularly harrowing sessions.
Dyfed-Powys Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Scheme Winners of the Lord Woolf Award
Kevin Fisher, Criminal Justice Substance Misuse Scheme Manager, describes what activities his team have been involved in since winning the award:
“Life has been hectic since we learnt that we had received the Lord Woolf Award for our work with offenders on Drug Rehabilitation Requirements. Prior to receiving the award at Buckingham Palace we had worked with Tim Newell and Mikael Springer on the development plan and they had visited the Area to meet both our senior managers and a group of offenders who were on the programme. This was a lively and informative event with individuals ‘telling it as it is.
“The development plan prompted us to initiate several new projects. We have worked with Dyfed-Powys Police Drugs Prevention Unit and Schools Liaison Programme to provide a DVD for schools. The DVD was produced by Clare Butterworth, a local filmmaker and is based around a series of offenders talking about their experiences of drugs and the damage drugs have done to their lives and the lives of others. It carries the clear message to say NO to drugs. The DVD will be used in schools and colleges as an educational tool and as part of Dyfed-Powys’ Police drug prevention programme.
“Work is also underway on planning a local conference chaired by Lord Woolf which will give the Area a further opportunity to publicise its work with drug using offenders. A core element of the conference will afford service users the opportunity to talk about their experiences of the programme. There will also be presentations on our service user consultation, which has been undertaken by an external consultant, and a re-offending study which has been assisted by the Drugs Prevention Officer in Dyfed-Powys Police.
“Working with the Butler Trust has been a very positive and creative experience and we are very grateful for their support and encouragement as we both implement the plan and enhance the quality of work with offenders and partnership agencies.”
Paul Johnson, Prison Officer at HMP Grendon Winner of an Achievement Award
Funding from The Butler Trust enabled Paul Johnson to visit Grande Cache Prison, Canada, to engage in a more fruitful debate and commitment to build a more effective therapeutic alliance with prisoners at Grande Cache.
During the visit, Paul hopes to:
- Establish the extent and nature of restorative and communal practice within Grande Cache.
- Find out what role prison/parole officers play in the processes.
- Examine the major differences in job description and practices between UK and Canadian prison staff.
- Consider which approach best suits uniformed staff and others involved with such work.
- Shadow officers and compare the differences in approach with English practice.
- Explore how the work fits into prisoner sentence plans and affects resettlement issues.
- Consider ways in which Grande Cache and Grendon can forge an effective dialogue and learn from each other.
- Produce a report for UK prisons.
Copies of the report will be available following publication. To request a copy please email info@thebutlertrust.org.uk
Dave Pemberton, Violence Reduction Co-ordinator, HMP Wormwood Scrubs: Winner of a 2006 Development Award (supported by Prison Officers’ Association)
Dave recently undertook a successful trip to Scotland during which he visited no less than four establishments: Shotts, Glenochil, Polmont and Barlinnie. During the trip Dave discussed amongst other things: the inclusion/exclusion categories for prisoners who are considered suitable to be on a Violence Prevention Programme and the positive outcomes for staff and prisoners; the impact of a proactive approach to dynamic intelligence gathering; and Mental Health First Aid Training.
The visit has fuelled his ideas for developing his work within Wormwood Scrubs. Training of staff is proceeding at present and a second survey of staff and prisoners has been carried out and an action plan developed from it. A Case Management Unit is also being developed for difficult prisoners with Dave in the lead.
Noreen Higgins, Project Manager, HMP Askham Grange Family Centre Winners of the 2006 Wates Foundation Award for Work with Female Offenders
“Winning the Award formally recognised the exceptional work achieved at the Family Centre and paid further tribute to staff for exceeding expectations in the provision of innovative childcare and services for families in a custodial setting.
Since winning the Award the Centre has acted as a flagship for both prison and community based day care centres. Staff at the Centre have provided guidance on best practice and have developed networks with a variety of agencies including Jigsaw at HMP Leeds and Annetta Bennett at Kids VIP.
Askham’s Family Services Manager ensures we deliver a holistic service that is responsive to the needs of women, children and families. Children’s visits are individually planned to fit in with outside family commitments such as work and school. The Family Centre can support visits Monday – Friday between the hours of 9am - 6pm.
The work also supports women who need to sustain family links to ease their resettlement back into the community. Offenders are less likely to offend if they have strong family ties. We make Sure Start Programme referrals across the country and arrange support for women on release. With permission from the mother we are able to follow her progress as she settles back into society.
Askham is putting a business plan together to look at offering over night stays for families.”
Noreen Higgins