How we work – with partners

KeepOut believes in powerful partnerships and in developing the links and creating the connections to make it all happen. Without the active support of our partners – HM Prisons, the Youth Justice Service and user groups – the scheme could not deliver so effectively on its objectives.

In each prison where KeepOut operates, these partners plays a crucial part in enhancing the services we provide. Their collaboration benefits the young people who are brought to the prisons to participate in – and learn from – the workshops, and the prisoners who deliver them.

Prisons

• The Prison Governors in HMP Coldingley, HMP Send and HMP Lewes sign Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the Chair of KeepOut Trustees. The Agreement spells out what each partner agrees to do to enable the service to be provided effectively within the prison, demonstrating their joint commitment to working together effectively.

• As part of the SLA, each Governor and the Chair of Trustees have an agreement to meet as and when required to share issues of mutual interest. To ensure that issues that arise are dealt with quickly and efficiently, each Prison Governor nominates one of the prison senior management team to act as operational liaison point between the KeepOut operational manager and the prison.

• Each prison provides a work-based location for the prisoner team, an office location for the civilian staff, and a space for the KeepOut prisoner team to deliver workshops to the young people who visit.

KeepOut is grateful to the Governors and staff at HMP Coldingley, HMP Send and HMP Lewes for all the support they provide. This is undoubtedly a key factor in the successful delivery of such an outstanding crime diversion programme.

Youth Justice Service

• The Youth Justice Service (YJS) works closely with KeepOut, supporting and enhancing the interventions provided to young people.

• The partnership with the YJS further develops the skills and competencies of the prisoners by providing tailored training sessions.

• In HMP Coldingley every Thursday and Friday, Surrey YJS works with the prisoner team to deliver more in depth interventions to higher risk young offenders in contact with the criminal justice system in Surrey. This includes CANDO, a 12-session offending behaviour programme; the Friday project; and the Respect programme, which addresses violence in young men’s relationships.

User groups

• The staff and key workers who bring young people to the prisons influence the KeepOut workshops with the information they provide on the needs of the young people. It is used for regular reviews and updates of the programme. So, too, is their invaluable feedback, received formally through the established evaluation process and informally through conversation, letters and reports. More on our user groups.