2. 6 scenarios

Scenario 3: Coping with reality

Read the situation below and choose the best response.

Rita comes into the Children's centre where you work. She is with her three-year-old and is very distressed as her partner has just been sent to prison for five years for a serious assault. She had no idea he would get so long, is worried about money, the lease on their flat is in his name and she doesn't even know where he has been taken or how to get in touch. Do you:

  • Warn Rita about how difficult it is to keep in touch during such a long sentence, particularly when he can be moved around the country and it might not be in her son's interests to try?
  • Whilst you may think this is the case, Rita still needs the information and time to make up her own mind and think about what is best for her son. Children's centre guidance also states that you should work with the family to support them around visits and advise them of the Assisted Visits Scheme for financial support. Research also suggests that, where appropriate, it is better to maintain family ties wherever possible (see the SCIE resource guide on maintaining family ties for children of prisoners in the Extra resources section).
  • Try and find information for Rita to take away. This includes materials on finance, visits and explaining what is happening to children. You might also give her the phone number for the National Prisoners' Families Helpline?
  • Top answer - There is a wealth of information available. Many materials can be found within the SCIE e-learning resource - 'The pathway from arrest to release' (see the Extra resources section above). It is worth having a store of leaflets for people to take away so they can start to process things. These are available from Ormiston, Action for Prisoners' Families, NIACRO and Families Outside. They provide accessible, practical advice and information. It can be a real shock for relatives after the sentence, particularly if there has been little preparation for the outcome. The information can then be followed up a few days later (see the Northern Ireland model from the SCIE resource guide in the Extra resources section).
  • Contact the local prison to see if he is there, find out about visits and offer to accompany Rita and her son on the first visit?
  • Getting in touch with a prison is not always easy. However, chapter 19 of the Guidance for Staff in Children's centres states that you should offer help to families, arrange visits and work with them before and after they take place. Those eligible can apply for financial assistance for visits from the Assisted Prison Visits Unit. Some prisons have visitor's centres with staff who will be able to help. You might consider developing links between the centre and your local prison. Thames Valley has a model of practice you can adapt locally (see resource guide from Extra resources section) . The National Helpline also offers information.