The guidelines provide a starting point for bringing together agencies to ensure that children and families who are visiting prison get the support and help they need.  They suggest that since local authorities now have a statutory responsibility for reducing re-offending as well as safeguarding children and meeting the needs of vulnerable families, it is important that this agenda is addressed.  Chris recommends that the local Integrated Offender Management groups provide the opportunity to bring together criminal justice and children's services to focus on the needs of offenders' families.  

 

The guidance also contains the contact names and addresses of a range of voluntary and community sector organisations who are currently providing support to offenders and their families, as well as statutory contacts in each authority who are keen to pursue this work.

 

Copies of the guidance can be downloaded, or hard copies obtained from the NEPACS head office.

 

The guidance was produced as part of the VONNE Policy and Representation Partnership with financial support from the Big Lottery.