1. Partnerships & Development
2. Projects
3. Personalisation at HMP Everthorpe

Region: Yorkshire and Humberside

Location: HMP Everthorpe, Brough

Summary 

This project aims to put offenders at the centre of their resettlement plans by involving them in the development of a ‘personalised’ service. It started with a period of action research where researchers worked with prisoners to ascertain what a personalised service might look like and how it would work. 

This project is part of our National Development Programme

Project type: Service improvement

Project status: Piloting commenced in March 2011

Partners

• Goodwin Trust
• HMP Everthorpe
• Hull City Council
• In Control
• formerly supported by the Yorkshire and Humberside Improvement Partnership

Project aim

To establish the effectiveness of a personalised resettlement model in reducing re-offending, improving health outcomes and improved social functioning for short-term prisoners.

Project outline

The project targets offenders serving sentences in HMP Everthorpe who have common mental health problems and multiple problems, whose needs are not historically met through traditional services.  These offenders, characterised by their chaotic lifestyles and high demand on the criminal justice, social care and health systems are costing the public sector disproportionate amounts of money yet their outcomes typically remain poor.

The pilot aims to put offenders at the centre of their resettlement plans by involving them in the development of a ‘personalised’ service.  This might involve assisting offenders to access less traditional services in an attempt to improve their health, social functioning and well being. It is believed that in the longer term, the greater benefit of this approach will demonstrate reduced re offending.

In the development phase, a programme of Action Research has been undertaken with a small group of offenders within HMP Everthorpe to ascertain, from their perspective, what a personalised service might look like and how their needs could be better met. 

The report from this action research, Getting a blue life, can be downloaded here.

Following this research, stakeholders have developed a service model to be piloted within HMP Everthorpe and the Goodwin Trust have been commissioned to deliver this service to a small group of short-term prisoners. A support worker will work with the prisoner both in the prison and in the community. Prisoners will be supported to develop their own personal development and resettlement plans. Those who show commitment to the project and desisting from offending may be able to access a beneficiary fund controlled by the worker to aid resettlement – e.g. for the deposit on a flat. The project emphasises personal strengths and focuses on giving the prisoner choice and control over their lives in return for them taking responsibility.

Please contact the central office for more information about this project.