WIREDGOV

Iain Wright, Minister for Children, Schools and Families, today launched a revised version of a ground-breaking course for male adult prisoners. The course, entitled Family Man, teaches prisoners how to work within a family, how to reflect and act on their responsibilities as a family member, and how to articulate their own ambitions. Funding from the Department for Children, Schools and Families will ensure that the families of male prisoners can now be heavily involved in the course and that prisoners receive more targeted support after completing the course.

Speaking at the launch, Iain Wright said:

“We know how much a positive home environment can help a child, we know that children with at least one parent or carer engaged in their education and training will thrive better than those without and we know that fathers are playing an increasingly important role in raising children in this country. This programme is an extension of our successful Think Family campaign which aims to put families of all forms and backgrounds at the heart of Government policy. Today’s announcement shows the cross-Government commitment to giving all families the chance to thrive.

“It is too easy to forget that prisoners often leave behind a family and research shows that it is imperative that they have a network of support once they are released. This funding has enabled revisions to be made to this programme that will enable a family member to supports the prisoner through the course.

“Support should not end when a prisoner is released, which is why I am delighted that with funding from my Department, Safe Ground will establish a joined up process to help the prisoner and their family to continue to access support after the course and in some cases after release.”

The revised Family Man course features two principal new developments:

• The course now enables prisons to involve a ‘family supporter’, e.g. a prisoner’s adult relative or significant other, in the sentence planning process. Their joint Plan of Action is shared through the education department with the Prison Service’s Offender Management.

• There is now more integrated follow-through when the course is complete, because the prisoner and his supporter are exposed to a range of other interventions associated with the prison. This approach helps to establish more robust and achievable progression opportunities for the Family Man student. Practices to support evaluation have also been built into the improved programme.

The revised Family Man programme is part of a wider series of cross-Government initiatives aimed at supporting families at risk. In 2007, a Ministry of Justice and DCSF review found that children of offenders are a vulnerable group that can be left behind by children’s services. The DCSF is working closely with the MoJ and the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) to explore how agencies in the criminal justice system and local services can work together to identify and assess the needs of children and families of offenders. MOJ and DCSF are developing a cross-government Framework document which sets out a vision for a co-ordinated, multi-agency approach to supporting this group.

Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
Family Man

Family Man is a tried and tested course for male adult prisoners. It uses drama and group work to enable participants to find new ways of thinking and behaving in prison and on release. Adding up to 140 intensive hours, the course was co-developed by Safe Ground and HM Prison Service. Six hundred prisoners and their families were also essential to the development of Family Man. More than 2,000 prisoners have completed the course.

Family Man enables students to achieve a National Open College Network progression award, and provides a gateway into all Reducing Re-offending Pathways. The course includes extensive teacher support materials which are free to prisons, including lesson plans, student workbooks, an award-winning film made by Safe Ground, and recruitment materials.

Safe Ground

The company’s name refers to the safe environment it creates so as to make new ways of thinking possible. For 15 years Safe Ground has educated prisoners and young people at risk in the community. It uses drama and group work to help these groups resist the forces of social exclusion and institutionalisation.

Safe Ground practises the view that it is not possible to motivate students unless you see the world from their perspective. That is why both of its flagship courses for prisoners were designed by prisoners. Between them, Family Man and Fathers Inside have now been experienced by over 25% of the male prison population.

Safe Ground is a registered charity. For further information please go to safeground.org.uk or contact Laura Martin on 0207 228 3831 or laura.martin@safeground.org.uk

Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288, info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk