What is the Criminal Justice and Mental Health Project? 

Counselling Service

We have a team of trained volunteer counsellors providing a person-centred counselling service within HMP Holme House (category B) and HMP Kirklevington Grange (semi-open, resettlement prison) for any prisoners experiencing mental health difficulties.

We try and work with the prisoner within a 16 week period but if necessary this period can be extended.

We also provide community based counselling for offenders/ex-offenders at our Middlesbrough offices.  This is also provided by our trained volunteers and referrals are usually taken from probation.

Volunteer Counsellors within a prison setting: 

• provide a confidential, one to one person-centred counselling service for offenders liaise with the service co-ordinator attend regular operational supervision have an external counselling supervisor work within the BACP Ethical Framework and Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind’s policies and procedures.
• Agree to undertake an Enhance CRB check and prison security clearance.

Appropriate Adult Service at Middlesbrough Police Station

The Appropriate Adult Scheme is for people suffering from mental ill-health or a learning difficulty with mental health problems. Volunteer Appropriate Adults are called upon when needed to to help vulnerable adults in custody to understand their rights and to assist police in meeting their welfare needs.  The Appropriate Adult Scheme operates in accordance with the Codes of Practice to the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (P.A.C.E), by establishing and maintaining a rota of trained volunteers, who will be able to provide a consistent service and respond rapidly to requests for Appropriate Adults, thereby ensuring that vulnerable people spend no longer than necessary in custody.

Volunteers receive full training on being an Appropriate Adult and full support and guidance throughout.

There is no minimum amount of hours you have to volunteer for, however, at the moment the rota is being spilt into two shifts per day 9am-1pm and 1pm-5pm.

No specific qualifications are necessary; however, life skills are essential as well as the ability to communicate with vulnerable adults and professionals.

Court Support Service

We are currently running a 6 month pilot from April 2011 to 30 September 2011 providing a Court Support scheme to complement our Appropriate Adult scheme.  This is also delivered by volunteers on a referral basis for emergency call outs.

Court Support volunteers can help by:

1. meeting with the defendant prior to the court case to advise of the process and provide emotional support.
2. encourage/motivate the defendant to attend the court hearing
3. agree to meet the defendant outside the court
4. help the defendant complete and understand paperwork
5. liaise with court staff and other professionals such as liaison teams, probation, solicitors
6. provide emotional support within the court room and answer questions if approached by the magistrate and if appropriate
7. request a break if the defendant is getting distressed
8. help them to understand the outcome and any conditions attached to their disposal
9. follow up with the defendant to help them to engage with appropriate services such as probation after their court appearance
10. develop a support plan to continue to assist the individual for up to 6 months.  This will be reviewed regularly, detailing issues such as money, housing, mental health/learning disability, social services and health.

We will be working in conjunction with the mental health liaison teams and will take referrals from:

• Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind's Appropriate Adult Scheme
• Magistrates
• Probation
• Police
• Court staff
• Defence lawyers

As a volunteer for all positions you will receive: 

• Opportunities to gain valuable experience working in a criminal justice setting and working within mental health services
• Full training and induction Full support & operational supervision
• Out of pocket travel expenses
• Opportunities to meet new people
• Gain new skills

To become a volunteer you must be at least 18 years old, have an interest in working with people with mental health problems within a criminal justice setting and be able to make a commitment to volunteering for a reasonable length of time.

To find out more or to request an information pack please contact:

Criminal Justice Service Co-ordinator

Middlesbrough and Stockton Mind

The Mind Centre

90-92 Lothian Road

Middlesbrough

TS4 2QX

Telephone: 01642 257020

Email: criminaljustice@middlesbroughandstocktonmind.org.uk 

Mentoring ex-prisoners

We provide a confidential one-to-one person-centred mentoring service for men leaving prison who are experiencing mental health problems.  The aim of the mentoring service is to support male ex-prisoners resettle back into the community, improving their weelbeing and reducing the likelihood that they will re-offend.  To access the service, individuals must be male and experiencing mental health difficulties prior to being released from prison in the North East region.  We accept referrals from each of the male prisons in the North East.  Our staff team is supported by a team of trained volunteer mentors.

For more information contact:

Our Middlesbrough office on 01642 257020

Email:  info@middlesbroughandstocktonmind.org.uk