Barnardo's Essex CAPI Service (Further Information)
The Essex Children Affected by Parental Imprisonment (CAPI) Service has provided information and advice to professionals, and support to children, young people and their families who have been affected by a family member's involvement in the Criminal Justice System for many years.
The service offered:
- Support for professionals and parents in identifying and responding to children’s and young people’s needs with age appropriate services and support.
- Support for families dealing with the negative impacts of having a family member in prison
- Practical assistance for families struggling financially including how to claim on the Assisted Visits Scheme.
- Advice about courts and prisons processes and visits.
- Sharing resources for professionals and parents with advice on telling the children about a parent's imprisonment and preparing them for visiting.
- Community, home and school based multi-agency child and family support.
- Whole family approach to support the reduction of reoffending by maintaining and strengthening family ties.
- The service is also involved in strategic work including:
- Partnership work with Health, Education, Social Care, HMP & YOI Chelmsford and other prisons, Court Services and Community Rehabilitation Companies to improve outcomes for children and families.
- Induction talks, family day events and services for parents and families at the Military Correction Training Centre (MCTC) in Colchester workshops and training for multi-agency professionals such as Hidden Sentence training.
- Coordination of a multi-agency steering group aiming for collaborative work to meet the needs of local children and families affected by parental imprisonment.
- Establishment of Single Points of Contact across Essex to provide a local network of advice, knowledge and support for professionals and families.
There have been significant changes to the programme since the last annual report for 2015/2016 which enhanced the provision to children and families and expanded the services and reach area. Additional external funding was won from the Essex Police Crime Commissioner funding programme to develop a new course for young girls who may be at risk of offending or vulnerable behaviours. The Essex CAPI service were also able to continue their group sessions for Chelsea Community Football Foundation in schools along with the establishment of a partnership agreement with the Criminal Justice Liaison and Diversion service.
