What is a rehabilitative culture and why is having one so important? Terry Williams, HMPPS Senior Rehabilitative culture Lead explains....

A rehabilitative culture is one where all the aspects of our culture support rehabilitation; they contribute to the prison being safe, decent, hopeful and supportive of change, progression and stopping offending. A rehabilitative culture is not about being soft or always saying yes to people. Instead it is about working in a way that supports the evidence for what can help reduce offending.

A rehabilitative culture not only helps to reduce re-offending. It also helps to make our prisons safer for everyone. It is related to improved job satisfaction and reduced stress. Hope makes people perform better and feel more satisfied, and so has benefits for everyone.

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Respectful relationships, a stress reducing physical environment, processes that are fair, the use of FMI skills, encouraging personal development and identity change and leaders that consistently model and encourage rehabilitative attitudes and behaviours are key to having a rehabilitative culture.  The Rehabilitative Leadership Sourcebook is an excellent guide for staff at every level.

Rehabilitative Culture does not undermine Security, which should act as an enabler, not a blocker.  The Security and Rehabilitative Culture Sourcebook is an excellent guide for establishments with a number of suggestions about how to integrate Security and Rehabilitative Culture successfully.

Research shows that when staff feel that they are treated in a way that is procedurally just (fairly) they are more likely to have less stress, sickness absences and burnout, they are less likely to want to leave to job, they have  greater commitment to the Organisation and have better life and job satisfaction.

None of this is complicated and the benefits of having a rehabilitative culture for people who work and live in prisons which include having a safe, decent and fair environment speak for themselves.    

Make sure you also check out the SOCT video interview of  Dr Jamie Bennett, Deputy Director of Operational Security Group in which he talks through the new new Security and Rehabilitative Culture Sourcebook. you can view the video here.   

You can view a great associated video featuring Dr. Jamie Bennett, Head of Operational Security Group at HMPPS here