Event recording – watch it back: Supporting transitions into, within and out of imprisonment: Why it’s important and how we can help 

The transition back into the mainstream prison environment may be just as significant as the transition into a therapeutic or recovery-oriented environment. During their time in these environments individuals may begin to develop new sensory and emotional ways of being leading to more openness, trust and willingness to engage. Returning to a mainstream wing may require individuals to become guarded again as they are exposed to familiar sensory patterns and social pressures. 

Although this may not always be the case this could create a period of vulnerability and potential relapse. The individual may feel caught between two environments no longer fully identifying with the norms of the mainstream wing, but unable to maintain the supportive conditions associated with the recovery-based environment. This just emphasises the importance of continuity of peer and professional support and access to suitable recovery-focused activities/spaces on the receiving wing. This may help individuals retain and build on the skills already learned within recovery orientated spaces.

Neurodivergence and personality traits are likely to shape how individuals experience and adapt to the sensory demands of prison. Noise, lighting, crowding, unpredictability and physical proximity may be overwhelming for some, while others may seek stimulation or respond through heightened vigilance or emotional masking. Although people may be exposed to the same custodial environment the sensory template they develop will be individual and shaped by their own needs and experiences. Greater awareness of these differences could help staff understand behaviour that might otherwise be interpreted as disengagement or non-compliance. It may also inform more individualised approaches to recovery. 

The evidence suggests that periods of change can be particularly challenging for people with neurodiverse needs. These challenges can be further compounded when the change involves a completely new environment, unfamiliar structures and systems, and new people. It therefore stands to reason that individuals with neurodiverse needs may be significantly impacted by transitions within the prison estate, which can increase their vulnerability and, in some cases, the risk of harm to themselves or others. 

One of the key aims of the Settlement Model is to support people through high-risk transition points during their custodial journey and help them to settle more effectively. The This is Me (TiMe) tool enables keyworkers to identify people’s needs, as well as skills and strengths, early as individuals enter and move through prison. Through having a consistent key worker, there is greater opportunity to ensure that where neurodivergent needs are identified, appropriate referrals are made to Neurodiversity Managers within the prison. 

The prototyping of the Settlement Model has demonstrated that the use of the Settlement Model tools leads to an increase in referrals to Neurodiversity Managers for those identified as requiring additional support. Having Neurodiversity Managers in post makes a noticeable difference in ensuring that people with specific neurodiverse needs receive more individualised support. This highlights both the value of these roles and the importance of adopting a different, more tailored approach to supporting neurodivergent individuals within custody.

Whilst the Settlement Model and associated tools were initially designed for, and are currently being prototyped within, prison settings, there is a natural correlation between the model and how it could support individuals transitioning into the community. Transitioning from custody to the community is recognised as a particularly vulnerable period, and many of the challenges associated with change, uncertainty and adjustment remain relevant at this stage of a person’s journey. 

We are currently prototyping the third package of the Settlement Model, Release Resettlement, which focuses on release planning and support during the final three months prior to release. As part of this work, we are exploring the relationship between prisons and Community Offender Managers (COMs), and how information can be shared more effectively to support continuity of support on release. 

With new structures being introduced into OMUs and probation, it is likely that there will be less direct (Prison Offender Manager) POM-COM communication and a greater reliance on written handovers. In this context, the relationships that key workers develop with Community Offender Managers prior to release could provide an additional layer of support, helping to bridge this vulnerable transition period and ensure important information is not lost. 
The aim is for the Settlement Model tools, This is Me (TiMe) and Personalised Regime Plans (PRPs), to be digitised so that they can move seamlessly with individuals throughout their custodial journey and into the community. Once digitised, the information contained within these tools should be accessible to COMs, enabling them to build on an individual’s identified needs, strengths and skills and use this information to support successful resettlement. 
 

For the purpose of the prototyping phase, we have been delivering half-day training sessions within prisons. These sessions focus on: 
Recapping the value and importance of key work, including the benefits of effective key working and how this can be carried out in practice. 
Developing knowledge and understanding of the Settlement Model. 
Building understanding of the Settlement Model tools and the skills required to use them effectively. 
  
Throughout the prototyping period, we have adapted and refined the training based on feedback and learning from participating sites. We have found that where clear, concise training has been delivered, implementation of the model has been smoother and key workers have felt more confident in using the tools from the outset. 
  
In addition to the training, we offer fortnightly check-ins with each prison, with additional support available where required. These sessions help ensure that the model is being implemented as intended, provide an opportunity to discuss any challenges, and on what is working well and what could be improved. 
  
The check-ins also create valuable opportunities for collaborative working with key workers and Supervising Officers. Through these discussions, we can test ideas, gather feedback, and make iterative changes to the model and tools throughout the prototyping process, helping to ensure they remain practical, meaningful and fit for purpose within operational prison environments. 

This is an area that we are particularly interested in and one that we are about to begin exploring through further prototyping. We recognise that in busy prison environments, key work is not always delivered as intended due to competing operational pressures. However, this does raise an important question about whether there are alternative ways of working that could ensure individuals receive additional support during these high-risk periods. 
Our focus is on understanding how we can provide meaningful support at key transition points, even where key worker capacity is limited.  We hope to explore whether targeted interventions during these periods could contribute to safer and more settled outcomes for prisoners, staff and establishments. We are keen to look at what approaches are both effective and realistic within the operational constraints that many prisons are currently working under.