Sussex Prisoners’ Families, The Maslow Foundation, and KSS Probation are working in partnership to deliver trauma-informed support to women in the criminal justice system who are at risk of imprisonment, along with their families. This project is based on the Whole Family Approach, utilising standardised Child Impact Assessments and Female/Family Assessments to address the needs of both the women and their families throughout their journey in the justice system. Children will be at the centre of this project, ensuring their voices are heard and that they are supported to move through what can be a tremendously traumatising time. The project aims to empower children by working with them to understand their needs, and that they are meaningfully included in decisions about their care and future. The project aims to ensure that those making decisions about the sentencing women have the important context of the impact a custodial sentence would have on children.
This project is the culmination of significant research on the part of Sarah Beresford and her team a the Prison Reform Trust around mitigating the impact on children of parental imprisonment. We have places links to this research below. The impacts on children of parental imprisonment are significant in the short, medium and long term, potentially impacting their future health, wellbeing and opportunities. In the short term children experience the shame and stigma of having a parent in the CJS, but in addition they often face the practical reality of losing their home and school. The creates enormous instability. If some of that instability can be avoided by working with children as soon as the potential for a need is recognised, asking them direclty what their feelings are, how they are coping, what questions they have and who they think can help them, these children can navigate this very difficult time much more effectively.
Practically the Child Impact Assessment is a series of questions, but crucially this isn’t a traditional form-filling exercise. The child can express themselves through drawing, arts and crafts, identifying their feelings through a particular song or object. The questions are open, for example ‘If I had a magic wish, I would use it for…’. Importantly the questions are then developed into an action plan, what do they want to happen, who should do what and when. The child can have a say on who they work with to complete the CIA, it’s more effective if they have a trusting relationship with the child first, which is where Sussex Prisoners’ Families comes in. We have the experience of building relationships with children and their families, using our trauma-informed, co-productive approaches. We create safe, non-judgemental spaces.
Below are a number of links to further information regarding this project. For further information please contact sarah@sussexprisonersfamilies.org.uk.
For referrals email referrals@maslowfoundation.cjsm.net
Links:
The Role of Child Impact Assessments in Supporting Children and Young People Impacted by Parental Imprisonment, Shona Minson, Sarah Beresford, Sophie Ellis, Kirsty Kitchen, Polly Wright and Nancy Loucks: The Role of Child Impact Assessments in Supporting Children and Young People Impacted by Parental Imprisonment
Centre for Justice Innovation, Child Impact Assessments: Child Impact Assessments | Centre for Justice Innovation
