Support if you are in custody

Support If You Are in Custody

If you are in custody, you are still a care-experienced young person and you are still entitled to support from the Next Steps Service.

Your Personal Adviser (PA) will stay involved, keep in contact with you, review your Pathway Plan and work alongside prison staff, probation services and other professionals to help you plan for your future.

Being in custody does not mean support from us stops.

Staying Connected With People Who Matter

We know that relationships are important and that having people who care about you can make a real difference.

We will help you stay connected with people who are important to you, where it is safe and appropriate to do so. This might include:

  • Family members.
  • Brothers and sisters.
  • Former foster carers.
  • Residential staff.
  • Trusted adults.
  • Friends.
  • Advocates.
  • Mentors.
  • Your Personal Adviser.

We can help you keep in touch through:

  • Visits.
  • Phone calls.
  • Letters.

Reconnecting With Important People

There may be people from your past who have made a positive difference in your life and who you would like to stay in touch with or reconnect with.

If it is safe and appropriate, we will work with you to identify the people who matter to you and explore ways to rebuild or strengthen those relationships. This could include family members, brothers and sisters, former foster carers, residential staff, teachers, mentors or other trusted adults.

Sometimes being in custody can make it difficult to keep in touch with people, especially if you have moved placements, changed areas or lost contact over time. If you would like to reconnect with someone, we can help explore whether this can be arranged.

Our aim is to help you maintain positive relationships and build a strong support network during your time in custody and when you return to the community.

Your Personal Adviser

Your Personal Adviser will continue to be there for you while you are in custody.

They can help you:

  • Keep in regular contact.
  • Visit you where possible.
  • Review your Pathway Plan.
  • Plan for your future.
  • Prepare for your release.
  • Make sure your views and wishes are heard.
  • Access support and services.

Mentors and Positive Role Models

Sometimes it helps to have someone outside of Children's Services to talk to.

If you would like a mentor, we can explore what support is available. This could include:

  • Care-experienced mentors.
  • Community mentors.
  • Education and employment mentors.
  • Faith or community leaders.
  • Mentoring programmes available in custody.
  • Trusted adults already involved in your life.

Our aim is to help you build positive relationships, increase your confidence and develop a strong support network for the future.

Advocacy and Independent Support

If you would like someone independent to support you, we can help you access an advocate.

An advocate can:

  • Help you understand decisions being made.
  • Support you to express your views and wishes.
  • Attend meetings with you.
  • Help you challenge decisions.
  • Make sure your voice is heard.

Change Grow Live Advocacy

  • 07471 543607
  • Change Grow Live Advocacy

Your Personal Adviser can help you make a referral.

Education, Training and Employment

Your time in custody can be an opportunity to learn new skills and plan for your future.

We can help you:

  • Access education and training opportunities.
  • Work towards qualifications.
  • Explore careers and employment options.
  • Create a CV.
  • Prepare for interviews.
  • Understand how to talk about a conviction with employers.
  • Plan your next steps after release.

Your Personal Adviser will work with prison education staff and other professionals to include these plans within your Pathway Plan.

Faith, Culture and Community

If your faith, culture or community is important to you, we can help you stay connected.

This may include support from:

  • Faith leaders.
  • Community representatives.
  • Prison chaplaincy services.
  • Community groups after release.

We want to help you maintain your identity, beliefs and sense of belonging.

Health and Wellbeing

If you need support with your health or wellbeing while you are in custody or when you are released, we will help you access the right services and make sure you are getting the support you need.

This may include support with:

  • Emotional wellbeing.
  • Mental health.
  • Anxiety and stress.
  • Building confidence.
  • Preparing for life after release

Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health

If you are struggling with your emotional wellbeing or mental health, we will help you access the right support.

This may include:

  • Referrals to mental health services.
  • Counselling or talking therapies.
  • Support for anxiety, stress, low mood or depression.
  • Help accessing specialist services where needed.

Your Personal Adviser can help you understand what support is available and make sure you know how to access it.

Support at Appointments

We know that attending appointments can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially after being released from custody.

You do not have to do this on your own.

Your Personal Adviser can:

  • Help you make appointments.
  • Attend appointments with you.
  • Help you understand information and advice.
  • Support you to ask questions.
  • Help you follow up any actions afterwards.

Building Confidence and Independence

Our aim is not only to help you access services but also to help you feel confident using them independently in the future.

We will work alongside you until you feel comfortable managing appointments, contacting services and looking after your own health and wellbeing.

We want to make sure you have the support, confidence and knowledge you need to stay healthy and well as you move forward with your life.

Support From Probation

If you are supervised by Probation, your Probation Officer and Personal Adviser will work together to support you.

They can help with:

  • Accommodation.
  • Education and training.
  • Employment.
  • Accessing specialist services.
  • Managing risks.
  • Planning for the future.

Planning for Your Release - Preparing for Your Return to the Community

We will start planning for your release as early as possible to make sure you have the support you need from day one.

We can help you with:

  • Finding suitable accommodation.
  • Accessing education, training and employment.
  • Registering with health services.
  • Accessing benefits and financial support.
  • Opening a bank account.
  • Obtaining identification documents.
  • Reconnecting with important people.
  • Accessing mentors and community support.

Registering with Health Services

When you are released, we will help you access the healthcare services you need.

This may include helping you to:

  • Register with a GP (doctor).
  • Register with a dentist.
  • Register with an optician.
  • Access specialist health services.
  • Arrange mental health support if needed.

Your Personal Adviser can help you complete registration forms, make phone calls, arrange appointments and, if needed, attend appointments with you until you feel confident doing this independently.

We understand that leaving custody can feel overwhelming.

We Can Meet You at the Gate

If needed, a member of the Next Steps Service can meet you when you are released and help you get to your accommodation, attend important appointments and access the support you need straight away.

You do not have to face your release on your own.

Community Support After Release

Community Connectors can help you:

  • Meet new people.
  • Join local activities.
  • Access support services.
  • Build confidence.
  • Get involved in volunteering.

Your Personal Adviser can help you access this support.

VAST Community Support

VAST can help you:

  • Find volunteering opportunities.
  • Join community groups.
  • Access wellbeing services.
  • Build friendships.
  • Develop confidence and new skills.
  • Connect with local support services.

Telephone: 01782 683030

Email: enquiries@vast.org.uk

Building Positive Networks

Getting involved in your community can help you:

  • Build confidence.
  • Learn new skills.
  • Meet positive people.
  • Strengthen your CV.
  • Improve future employment opportunities.

We will help you identify opportunities that match your interests and goals.

Financial Support When You Leave Custody

We understand that leaving custody can be a big adjustment and that you may not have access to the things you need straight away.

We will work with you before your release to make sure you have the practical and financial support you need to help you settle back into the community.

Setting Up Your Home

If you are moving into your own accommodation, we will help you access your Leaving Care Grant to set up your home.

Your Personal Adviser will work with you to make sure you have the essential items you need and help you plan how best to use your grant.

Mobile Phone Support

We know that having a phone is important when you leave custody so that you can stay in touch with services, attend appointments and contact people who are important to you.

When you are released, we will provide:

  • A mobile phone.
  • £20 credit to help you get started.

This will help you stay connected and access support from day one.

Clothing Allowance

We understand that you may no longer have access to your belongings or suitable clothing when you leave custody.

To help you get back on your feet, we will provide a £150 clothing allowance so that you can purchase essential clothing and footwear.

Our aim is to help you feel comfortable, confident and prepared for appointments, education, training or employment opportunities.

Travel and Internet Support

We recognise that if you have spent a significant period of time in custody between the ages of 18 and 21, you may not have had the opportunity to benefit from some of the support that would normally have been available to you.

If you are released between the ages of 21 and 25, we can provide:

  • Internet support to help you stay connected and access online services.
  • Travel support to help you attend appointments, education, training and employment opportunities.

Help with Identification Documents Before You Leave Custody

Having the right identification documents is important when you leave custody, as you may need them to access housing, benefits, work, education, training, healthcare and banking services.

If you do not have important identification documents, we will work with you and the prison before your release to make sure you receive an official prison ID letter confirming your identity. This can help you access services while longer-term identification documents are being arranged.

We can also support you to:

  • Apply for a replacement birth certificate.
  • Replace a lost or expired passport or driving licence.
  • Gather other documents needed to prove your identity and address.

Your Personal Adviser will help you understand what documents you need, support you with applications where required, and work with other agencies to help make sure you have the identification you need to successfully settle back into the community.

Our Commitment

We want to make sure that leaving custody does not create extra barriers when you are trying to rebuild your life.

Our aim is to make sure you have the practical support, financial assistance and opportunities you need to settle into accommodation, stay connected, access services and move forward positively towards your future.

If you are in custody when a birthday or festive allowance is due, we will make sure the money is kept safe for you. Any allowance you are entitled to will be held securely and provided to you when you are released, helping you to access the support available to you as a care-experienced young person.

Care leavers local offer