Community Reintegration
As part of the Review of the Community Justice Ayrshire Partnership throughout 2021, it was identified by partners that there was a gap in coordinated community reintegration support across Ayrshire, for people leaving prison.
As a result of this the Community Justice Ayrshire Partnership Manager and Head of Offender Management from HMP Kilmarnock, met with colleagues from Dumfries and Galloway Community Justice Partnership to learn more about the model which was in place and working successfully within HMP Dumfries. It was decided that the Community Justice Ayrshire Partnership would support the introduction of a similar model across Ayrshire and as Scottish Prison Service lead this piece of work in Dumfries and Galloway, they would take on this role in Ayrshire.
A Terms of Reference was developed for the new Community Reintegration weekly meetings and the model was introduced in May 2021.
A multi-agency approach was adopted to support the successful reintegration of individuals back into the community. Pan-Ayrshire partners from several services attend weekly meetings where people being released from prison in the following 6 to 8 weeks are discussed.
Scottish Prison Service engage with community partners, external agencies, and appropriate organisations to assist people in accessing any necessary service provision, establishing / re-establishing prosocial relationships, and influencing and motivating change.
The approach aims to ensure that individuals leaving custody and reintegrating back into the Ayrshire communities are given the opportunity to be offered support, discuss their needs, and be assessed appropriately. This will include those being liberated from establishments out with the Ayrshire region.
The weekly meetings will assess and where possible provide the offer of support to all those sentenced to short term sentences with no statutory or licence conditions placed on them once liberated. The weekly meetings will discuss those being liberated and returning to Ayrshire from establishments out with Ayrshire area and where appropriate make referrals to support their smooth reintegration.
Partnership Pre-Release Support Pathway
The point at which an individual is released from prison is one of the most critical stages in the justice journey. Many individuals require person-centred support to address a range of complex needs when leaving custody. Successful reintegration into communities reduces reoffending and contributes to improved public safety.
CJAP partners identified the need for a clear, documented process outlining what happens at the point of liberation. This pathway sets out the multi-agency process for pre-release planning and liberation within HMP Kilmarnock. It applies to men being liberated from HMP Kilmarnock to an address in North, South or East Ayrshire. The pathway details the agencies involved, the support available both within the prison and in the community, and the timeline for key interactions and interventions.
The aim of this pathway is to improve outcomes for people returning to Ayrshire following a period in custody at HMP Kilmarnock by strengthening partnership working and providing greater clarity around the agencies and processes involved in pre-release planning.
This work supports efforts to deliver the National Priorities relating to continuity of care, sustainable housing and throughcare support following release from prison. We also continue to prepare for the enactment of the relevant provisions within the Bail and Release from Custody (Scotland) Act, which will introduce a statutory pre-release planning duty on named partners. This document will help support that requirement.
You can read the full pathway here.
If you notice any errors or there are additions required to the document then please get in touch. Similarly, if you would like further information on community reintegration the please do not hesitate to get in touch.
One Page Resources
Through the Community Reintegration Delivery Group a ‘liberation pack short-life working group’ was established to review liberation materials. This short-life group has now finalised a set of concise, one-page resources containing essential contact information for people being released from prison and returning to Ayrshire.
These resources are intended to ensure that individuals have easy access to key contact details for support services in their local area, as well as space to record any appointments that have been arranged for them following their release.
Listed below are three versions of the resource, one for each Ayrshire local authority area. These will be given to men at their pre-release appointment in HMP Kilmarnock around 8 weeks prior to their release. If you have physical premises and engage with people following release from prison, feel free to print and have these available. When printing the resources, please ensure that you select “Print on both sides – flip pages on the short edge”. This will allow the document to be folded into booklet format once printed.
Lib 1 Pager – HMPK East Ayrshire (protected)
Lib 1 Pager – HMPK North Ayrshire (protected)
Lib 1 Pager – HMPK South Ayrshire (protected)
Additionally, versions for men and women coming back to each Ayrshire area from other establishments have been produced and will be shared with contacts in those prisons. For men leaving HMPK and returning to an area out with Ayrshire, the Scottish Prison Service SharePoint site contains localised information which will be shared with them for the area they are returning to, and regional financial support is shown on the Independent Food Aid Network website Cash first leaflets – Independent Food Aid Network.
Mapping Support Available at Release
The Community Reintegration Delivery Group identified a need to produce a mapping tool to lay out the support available for people on release from prison. Group members have added information relating to their services and this was circulated to additional partners to allow them the opportunity to contribute and ensure information on all available services was recorded.
Clink on the link below to download the spreadsheet. Use the drop down arrows in the boxes at the bottom of the spreadsheet to select ‘Area’ and select ‘Type of Support’ and it will highlight what support is available.
Mapping Support Available at Release
If you notice any errors or there are additions required to the mapping document then please get in touch. Similarly, if you would like further information on community reintegration the please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Liberation Support – Drop In Facilities
Support and resources are now available for people recently liberated from prison at a range venues across Ayrshire. Further information can be found on the individual flyers below.
