Support for Families with a Parent or Carer in Prison

Having a parent or carer in prison can be tough and it can often leave a family feeling isolated. When someone within a household goes into prison this can bring additional stress on the family and things may change at home.

It is estimated that over 300,000 children a year have a parent in prison, 65% of boys with a parent in prison go on to commit an offence and 25% of children with a parent in prison are at risk of mental health problems, including anxiety and depression and struggle to regulate their emotions and behaviour

We want to support families to reduce the impact of having a parent in prison by offering a tailored package of support depending on what they want and need and working with the families to achieve their/your goals

We want to support families to feel stronger and able to manage the changes that they are experiencing of either a parent entering a prison sentence or coming out following their sentence.

We want to help young people whose parent/carer is in custody to have the best possible life chances.

The family may have been the only constant for the person who has been in custody throughout their sentence.

When a parent or carer goes into custody this can often be a chaotic and traumatic time for a family and the relationships within the household are likely to be affected. This may have an impact on how the remaining adult’s parent or how the young people within the home behave. Young people within the home may struggle at school and may find it hard to know what they are thinking and feeling.

When a parent or carer is released from prison after their sentence this is also one of the most unsettling times for a family, whilst often there is joy that they will be returning to the family setting there is clearly a period of adjustment that is needed and a change once again in the roles within the family.  There may be some conflict between adults where those that were not in custody have had to take on the emotional and financial roles and when the person is released from custody this could create some tension. Families may also experience some difficulties in re-establishing boundaries with the children due to one parent/carer having been absent for a period of time.

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Support that can be offered is through The Family Service can include:-

• Improving how your family functions, routines and boundaries
• Helping young people to maintain good emotional health and deal positively with emotions
• Support children to ensure they are getting their education and support any issues in school
• Parenting a child or young person with risk taking behaviours
• Reducing violence and conflict between a child or young person and their parent
• Reducing conflict between parents that live together or separately
• Parenting a child or young person with Autism Spectrum disorder (ASD) or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Parenting a teenager
• Staying safe online
• Family Mediation or Solution focused family meetings

Support that can be offered through The Children’s Centres can include:-

Children’s Centre Volunteers offer one-to-one or group support with:

• BABES breastfeeding support group
• Under Ones group
• Stay and Play group for under fives

Qualified Children’s Centre workers also offer one-to-one or group support with:

• preparing for a baby
• children’s development, including listening and communication
• playing with your child
• the emotional health of you or your child
• children’s behaviour
• feeding your child
• increasing your confidence to help you get a job
• domestic abuse (in partnership with Women’s Aid services)

Useful Links

The Family Service | Nottinghamshire County Coucil

The Children's Centre Service | Nottinghamshire County Council

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Any family with a parent who has gone into or is being released from Prison can contact the Early Help unit on 0115 8041248 or early.help@nottscc.gov.uk

A person who is in prison due to be released through their work coaches (with their families consent)

Any service that are working with a family where a parent or carer has gone into custody and the family want support

Schools who have pupils with a parent or carer in custody where the family are wanting support 

Children’s Centre continue to provide a range of services for parents to be and families with children under 5 years old. You can contact your local children’s centres using this link The Children's Centre Service | Nottinghamshire County Council  or speak with the Early Help Unit for further information

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Children Heard and Seen – self referrals only

https://childrenheardandseen.co.uk/

PACT – Prisoner Advice and Care Trust

Prison Advice and Care Trust

Prisoners’ families helpline – 0808 808 2003 (freephone)

Barnados

Believe in children | Children's charity | Barnardo's (barnardos.org.uk)

Relationships Really Matter – Nottshelpyourself | Relationships Really Matter:

Benefits support – Nottshelpyourself | Work and Volunteering

DWP-Nottshelpyourself | Financial and Legal Advice

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Leaflet-FAQs-How To Tell Children

Hidden Sentences: Voices of prisoners families - Created by The Prison Advice and Care Trust featuring Pact's Ambassadors, and exploring the impact of imprisonment on prisoners' families

Children of Prisoners: Release - In this Video children at home and in prison talk about the impact of release on the family

Children Heard and Seen: What we do - A short video that shows what we do to support children impacted by parental imprisonment

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If you are working with a family where a parent or carer has gone into custody or is due to be released you may feel that further support is needed in order to reduce tension, improve communication, support parenting or just for the Young people to have some support with their emotional wellbeing throughout a difficult transition period within the family dynamic.

Our workers have all received Hidden Sentence training so have an awareness of:

• the issues that affect children and families where a family member is in prisons
• how the current criminal justice system works.
• the journey of an offender
• the impact imprisonment has on family members and how it influences society
• specific issues for children with family members in prison
• statutory/voluntary support that can be provided for children and families through

How to refer:

Any family with a parent who has gone into or is being released from Prison can access support through the Early help Unit or through the families local Children’s Centre. Referrals can be made by professionals through the Early Help Online referral form or by contacting the Children’s Centre direct if the Children are under 5 years old.

DWP Work coaches working within the prison can refer direct through the Early Help Unit at the request of a parent who is in prison (attach link to work coaches form). This must be a parent who is going to be released either back into the family home or be having regular contact with their family upon release. The consent of the family would be needed to accept this referral.