Action for Prisoners’ Families seminar In it together: Supporting prisoners' and

1. Action for Prisoners’ Families seminar In it together: Supporting prisoners' and offenders' families across agencies 18 October 2012 BirminghamPresentation by Emma Checkley Integrated Offender Management Team Walsall

2. Emma Checkley CAF Coordinator Integrated Offender Management Team Walsall.

3. What is Integrated Offender Management in Walsall? • Housing • Police • Drug agencies • Probation • Children’s Services • Community Mental Health

4. One Day One Conversation • ODOC • Offenders are nominated and scored according to the West Midlands Police CORVUS system. • Offenders are allocated an Offender Manager • Monthly ODOC meeting of partner agencies • Information sharing across agencies • Comprehensive management of the offender

5. Where does CAF fit in? • What is CAF? • Why is CAF relevant to the management of high risk offenders? • Who can complete a CAF? • ‘Preventing and tackling crime and reducing offending efficiently and effectively.’ • Police and Crime Commissioners

6. ‘.......and protecting the vulnerable.’ • Victoria Climbie was 8 years and 3months old when she died. • Victoria sustained 128 injuries to her body. • Victoria was not hidden away, she was seen by 3 housing departments, 4 social services departments, 2 police child protection teams, an NSPCC centre and 2 Hospitals.

7. Lord Lamings report • Agencies should identify a ‘common language.’ • Identifying who they are concerned about. • Why they are concerned • What they are going to do about those concerns.

8. So far we have part of a puzzle! Offenders & Children.

9. Case study. Jim and Jackie have 4 children. Jack is 8, his brother Adam is 6 and the twins Alesha and Ruby are 3. Jim is a prolific burglar. He is a heroin user, but often gets clean when in custody. Jim has had many custodial sentences and all of the children have been born when he is custody. Jackie doesn’t work, she would like to attend a college course when the twins go to school. The family live on her benefits. Jack struggles at school, he has poor concentration and often gets into fights. He says that he hates school. Adam is also struggling to make friends. He likes routine. He is overweight and teased. They hate the police and throw stones. The home is in need of repair and the family are facing eviction due to anti social behaviour. Jim is due home next month after serving18months in custody.

10. ‘He’s just like his dad. By the time he is 16 he will be on drugs He will be robbing old ladies too.’ ‘This family are a nightmare, he will be back inside before the years out, the kids are better off in care.’ ‘This needs to be child protection, she always arguing and fighting, she knows he’s no good and the kids are just like him.’ ‘Lock them up and throw away the key.’

11. What we did. • Jim was nominated by the police to be managed by the IOM team. • Drugs workers liaised with the HMP drugs teams and a plan was made from the first day of release. • Housing inspected the home and maintenance work began. • A CAF was completed in the home, by a police officer and a teacher. • The CAF was taken into prison and partially completed with Jim. • The support workers from a local Children’s Centre made contact with Jackie and supported her parenting.

12. Continued......... • Probation discussed employment options and training with Jim & Jackie. • The children’s thoughts & feelings were done with support. • Positive activities were arranged for the whole family. • Budgeting support and advice was arranged. • 1-1 support was offered to all members of the family. • Police officers arranged supportive visits pre and post release.

13. How we did it! • Discussion at ODOC with all relevant agencies • Tasks set with completion dates. • A CAF was initiated to look at all of the issues surrounding Jim and his family. • School were informed and encouraged to think differently. • A meeting was held in prison with all concerned and a plan made. • Goals were set using the CAF • Jim and Jackie became active participants in their family plan. They were given responsibility for making positive changes but with support. • Jim and Jackie were listened too. • The children were listened to. • Jim and Jackie were supported in understanding the impact of offending on the children.

14. The future for Jim and Jackie. • Engagement with services means better oversight on Jim’s activities. • Jackie no longer feels on her own. • Jim understands how the family function with out him and the difficulties they face. • Jackie and school realise how important it is to communicate with Jim about the children. • Jim now parents with Jackie • The children feel safe and professionals are happy knowing that the children are well cared for. • A safety plan has been established

15. What have we learnt? • Jim is not just an OFFENDER • Jim has a history that has affected his future. • Jim is a partner and a father • Jackie didn’t know where to start in making positive changes but was very capable. • Jackie couldn’t cope with the children on her own, she had never been taught how to parent. • Adam had underlying reasons that affected his behaviour and learning. • The children were being bullied because their dad was in prison. • The boys were frightened of the dark and frightened of the police.

16. The offender is often part of a much larger jigsaw puzzle The jigsaw would be incomplete without them

17. CAF and prisons. • How can we minimise the impact on those left at home? • How can we support parents in custody continue with their role as a parent? • Who are we punishing? • “The impact of a parent's imprisonment on a child, she says, is similar to that of bereavement and the situation is made worse because many feel they cannot reveal where the parent is. "Sometimes young children blame themselves, as if they have done something wrong, which is why mummy or daddy has been taken away."

18. In 5 years what has changed? • Bob the builder is no longer cool • Iggle Piggle is nothing to do with them! • Nobody watches power rangers anymore, its all about Tracey Beaker. • Super Dry isn’t a cycle on the machine • Girls are no longer considered friends • 7pm bedtime is now when you have your hour on facebook with your friends!

19. Walsall CAF/ IOM & Prisons • Ensuring that when identified the family are contacted and offered the support to maintain parental links. • Schools and child care providers supported in communicating with the parent via the prison resettlement teams. • The prisoner given the support to voice any concerns about their child and guided in communicating that effectively. • Delivery of training from outside support agencies encourages better engagement when released. • Being a good parent focuses the mind away from offending. • Hidden sentence training has been adapted to help fathers understand what life is like for their children outside. • Looked at issues that are relevant and current to their children.

20. Key points to consider • Multi agency working is essential • Communication between outside agencies and prisons can be effective. • The cycle of offending needs to be tackled from many different angles. • Use a holistic perspective when supporting someone change direction. Refocus. • The offender is part of a much bigger picture. • Children will continue to love their parents regardless of the wrong they may have done.

21. Contact information Walsall Offender Management Team 01922 433286 Walsall CAF Duty Team 01922 658170 checkleye@walsall.gov.uk Thank you