Learning Disability Awareness Training for Prison Staff (pilot in the South-East)
 
The Valuing People Support Team has commissioned two learning disability organisations  (KeyRing and The Skillnet Group) to jointly develop and deliver a training package designed for prison staff on the needs and related issues of working with offenders with learning disabilities.

This pilot is in response to findings contained in the recently released “No One Knows” report (Prison Reform Trust) which has identified growing concern about the number of people with learning disabilities and learning difficulties who come into contact with the Criminal Justice System, specifically in the prison service. Prison staff who took part in the research said that they did not feel that they had sufficient expertise and skills to identify or to support this group of prisoners. Prison staff noted that prisoners with learning disabilities often do not receive appropriate support whilst in prison, including opportunities to participate in offending behaviour programmes, which in some cases affected their parole and release dates as well as effective preparation for release back into the community.  

This 7-month project will produce a road-tested training package suitable for regional and national use. The package will be co-designed and presented with people with a learning disability and delivered to prison staff. This includes contracted-in staff working in custodial settings, such as healthcare and education, and all levels of prison staff.

The training package will be piloted in January and February 2008 with 60+ prison staff and contracted-in staff from a variety of prisons in the south-east CSIP region (excluding London). These sessions are likely to take place in the regional Prison Service Learning Centres where possible, permitting participants from several surrounding prisons to attend.

For further information about any aspect of this pilot, including future plans for national training, please contact Neisha.Betts@csip.org.uk

A guide for Criminal Justice Staff working with offenders with a learning disability can be found at: www.hsccjp.csip.org.uk/learningdisabilities or hard copies can be provided by Neisha Betts.

The Prison Reform Trust report, Identifying and supporting prisoners with learning difficulties and learning disabilities: the views of prison staff can be down loaded from, www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/nok