If you go into custody
Being in custody does not stop you being a care leaver or end our responsibilities to you. We will continue to act as your Corporate Parent and make sure you receive the support you are entitled to.
What you can expect from us
Your Personal Adviser will stay involved
You will continue to have support from your Personal Adviser (PA) up to the age of 25 if you are entitled to leaving care services. Your PA will:
- keep in contact with you while you are in custody
- visit you in prison where appropriate
- continue to support you emotionally and practically
- help you plan for your future and prepare for release
- work with prison staff and other agencies to make sure your needs are understood and met
Planning starts early
Within the first month of your sentence, we will aim to be involved in a planning meeting with you, prison staff, probation and any other relevant professionals. Together we will:
- review your Pathway Plan
- identify any support needs
- plan for your time in custody
- prepare for accommodation, education, employment, training and support on release
We will share information to support you
With your consent, your Personal Adviser and prison staff will work together and share relevant information, including your Pathway Plan and support needs, to help you get the right support while in custody and when you leave prison.
Additional support if you are vulnerable
If prison staff are concerned about your wellbeing, mental health, self-harm or safety, your Personal Adviser may be involved in planning meetings and support arrangements, with your consent.
Support for family and trusted relationships
We recognise that maintaining positive relationships with family members, former carers and other trusted adults can be important for your wellbeing, emotional resilience and successful resettlement. We will support you to stay connected with the people who matter most to you where these relationships are safe and positive. This builds on the commitment already outlined within your Pathway Plan to help maintain supportive networks during custody and when you return to the community.
Where it is assessed as beneficial to your wellbeing and rehabilitation, and where financial circumstances would otherwise prevent contact, we may provide financial assistance for up to four visits per year from a parent, grandparent, former carer or other significant adult.
Support will be:
- considered on an individual basis
- agreed through discussion with your Personal Adviser as part of your Pathway Plan
- subject to available funding.
Focused on maintaining relationships that are important to your wellbeing, future stability and successful resettlement.
Our aim is to help you maintain safe, positive and supportive relationships that will continue to support you during custody and on your release.
Financial support
If you are in custody and are engaged in your pathway planning and sentence plan we will provide £1 per day (up to £7 per week) for you. The prison must confirm you are engaged in a programme of training or employment or that you are medically confirmed as being unable to work do to ill health. Working with your PA and offender manager you can decide if you wish to have all the amount or some held back to help you with setting up home when you are released.
Preparing for release
Before you leave custody, we will work with you, prison staff and probation services to help you plan for a successful return to the community.
This may include support with:
- accommodation
- education, training or employment
- accessing benefits and finances
- health and wellbeing services
- reconnecting with support networks
- updating your Pathway Plan and identifying your goals
Your rights
As a care leaver in custody, you have the right to:
- ask for support from your Personal Adviser
- be involved in decisions about your future
- have your views listened to
- receive information about your entitlements and the Local Offer
- request support to access your care records if you wish to do so
If you need support
If you are in custody and have lost contact with your Personal Adviser, tell a member of prison staff that you are a care leaver and ask them to contact the Westmorland and Furness Care Experienced Team. Prison care leaver leads and prison staff can help reconnect you with us.
Our promise
If you are a Westmorland and Furness care leaver in custody, we will not forget about you. We will continue to support you, stay in touch, and help you prepare for a positive future when you leave custody.