CAREERS

Working in prisons can be challenging , but a prisonbased therapeutic community can bring about genuine change , say Claire Illingworth , Kate Cookson , Monica Sumner and Rachael Ashcroft

elphi Medical is a leading independent provider of drug and alcohol treatment in the UK , ensuring excellent clinical and psychosocial provision as part of a recovery pathway . We are a part of the larger Calico group , an organisation made up of charities and businesses that focus on improving lives and creating a social profit .

Delphi specialises in drug and alcohol recovery services in prisons , including the HMP Wymott therapeutic community ( TC ). A therapeutic community is a communityled , living and learning environment that helps to promote social , psychological and behavioural change . HMP Wymott TC addresses substance use and is an intensive structured programme where residents live and work together . TC residents are encouraged to challenge and unlearn addiction and offending-related attitudes and behaviours – therapeutic communities use the community itself as a way to change .

HMP Wymott TC is a 70-bed unit separated from the wider prison . Residents will have access to healthcare , gym , visits and chapel in the main prison . The TC , a 12-month programme , is 24 / 7 and residents work together , live together and learn together . New residents will be given a buddy , and recovery peers help to support and mentor residents throughout their time in the programme .

OUR AIMS :

1 . Put responsibility on individuals to recover from their dependency and lead a substance-free and more fulfilling life . 2 . Reduce substance-related offending . 3 . A holistic approach tailored to individual need and aspiration – to tackle wider physical and psychosocial needs .

4 . To prepare clients for living and working back in society .

STAGES OF TREATMENT Connect – three months In the Connect stage , new residents participate in the welcoming stage where job roles are shadowed , and attend five group sessions specifically about the TC programme . At this stage , new residents receive a buddy and settle into the community . Once a new resident is in Connect , they are expected to fully engage in the community . The Connect stage is an introduction to recovery and TC treatments , with residents participating in group sessions , peer support , feedback pledge groups and social prescribing groups alongside other Connect residents .

Dependence – five months In the Dependence stage of the programme residents focus on relapse prevention techniques , the self , communication , personal values , positive routines , and introduce new patterns of behaviour . Dependence residents will share their life story and take on more responsibilities in their job roles and through mentoring and supporting Connect residents .

Freedom – four months In the final stage of the TC programme , Freedom , residents focus on progression from the TC by looking at what ’ s next , transitioning from the TC , resettlement needs , relationships , and exploring the recovery peer offer . Freedom residents take on more responsibility by mentoring , and delivering SMART Recovery groups as well as social prescribing groups . At the end of a resident ’ s journey on the programme , a celebration is held with the whole community and an end-of-treatment review with other agencies such as prison offender managers , prison key workers and family members can also be invited .

Lankowsky / Alamy

22 • DRINK AND DRUGS NEWS • MARCH 2024 WWW . DRINKANDDRUGSNEWS . COM