Intellectual outputs​

IO1 – Establish AWARE cross-cutting Knowledge exchange framework and community of practice
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Lead by IPS_Innovative Prison Systems
Timetable -  01/10/2018 to 31/03/2021​

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Description

This IO aims to give AWARE a solid and focused framework and online platform into which meaningful learning outcomes will be slotted, for a diverse and cross-sectoral awareness building. The objectives of the IO1 are:
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• To develop a cross-cutting knowledge exchange framework and Community of Practice (CoP), which brings together the mental health and the justice (prison and probation) sectors;
• To support the transnational and multi-agency integration we believe is critical to understanding CJS and mental health issues and vocational/ social discrimination;
• To develop a tool which breaches the prison walls and makes our project results accessible to all sectors including policy makers.​​

​Activities

 O1/A1. Desk and practice-based research. 

• To conduct desk and practice-based research of existing learning, published articles and good practice in approaches to mental health, drawn where possible from large, high-quality studies;
• To develop a framework which includes diagnosis, assessment, self-reporting, critical points, treatment pathways, support structures (pre- during- post- imprisonment), multi-agency support, family and community support structure, third sector and volunteers, social and vocational inclusion and awareness (within and between multi-agency support structures and in wider, adult society).

O1/A2. Engagement of stakeholders.

• To establish clear and agreed learning goals on fostering knowledge exchange and integrated approaches;
• To identify, engage and connect third sector representatives, practitioners, adult education trainers and professionals, academics and other expert stakeholders across the fields of mental health, CJS and civil society resettlement.

O1/A3. Development of a CoP. 
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• To develop an online CoP platform where a moderated learning space will be established with clear goals and objectives, aware of the experience and knowledge each stakeholder brings to the project;
• To develop this content based on the needs identified in the mapping/research activities.​

IO2 – Tools to assess current needs of multi-agency staff dealing with prisoners with mental health needs, transferable training provision and good practice

Lead by Athens Lifelong Learning Institute
​Timetable - 01/12/2018 to 31/07/2020

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Description

The aim of this IO is to develop one tool flexible enough to provide key inputs to support the design of an innovative curriculum targeting on volunteers and multi-agency stakeholders in the effective vocational integration and social inclusion of prisoners with mental health needs.
 
The objective of this output is to deliver a tool and a resource to assist criminal justice organizations and NGOs. This tool will support the development of an innovative curriculum.

​​Activities

O2/A1. Literature review on tools to screen awareness of the joint factors of mental health and imprisonment in successful social and vocational resettlement and (re)inclusion.
 

• Build on IO1's desk research and identify tools and studies on the field and with the same scope as the assessment tool, with a particular focus on mental and social health. During this phase, activities will include:
• A working document on the methodology framework;
• A working document on the methodology framework;
• Development of the in-depth interview guide;
• Development of the questionnaire.

O2/A2. Development of the screening tool.
 

• During this phase, 100 responses will be collected on the needs of people working in the criminal justice system, who deal with mental health issues in a direct or peripheral way. A pre-test of 5 responses will validate the tool’s effectiveness. The scope of participants will be prison and probation staff, as well as NGO staff and volunteers who work in prison. Activities during this phase will include:
• Narrow down best practices per partner country;
• Conduct five in-depth interviews per partner country;
• Research implementation (100 Questionnaires).

 
O2/A3. Mapping exercise on partner countries' mental health support along CJS pathway and report on European awareness of the joint factors of mental health and imprisonment in successful social and vocational resettlement and (re)inclusion.
 

• Phase 3 will map the stakeholder’s system in each partner country from the data gathered in phases 1 and 2 and an analysis and interpretation of the empirical data will follow.

IO3 – Tool to assess current mental health provisions for (former) prisoners with mental health needs, to assess their experience and needs as they perceive them

Lead by Bremen Senate of Justice and Constitution (BMoJ)
​Timetable - 01/12/2018 to 31/07/2020

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Description

The focus of this IO is to ensure that (ex)prisoners, as the target group for anti-discrimination measures, are fully represented and participate in the methodology. Prisoners will be asked how they perceive the mental health system within the criminal justice system, and about their experience of mental health support structures.
 
Specifically, research conducted during IO3 will ask (ex)prisoners about their range of experiences, covering how each stakeholder responsible for their welfare, approaches the issue of mental health (diagnosis, assessment, critical points, treatment pathways), their experience of support structures (pre- during- post- imprisonment multi-agency support, family and community support structure, third sector and volunteers), social and vocational inclusion and wider societal awareness (within and between multi-agency support structures and in wider, adult society).
 
This IO will deliver original research on user’s perception of mental health support structures inside and outside of prison, which alongside IO2’s stakeholder perspective, will be the basis to of a training course for people supporting prisoners and ex-prisoners with mental health issues. 

​Activities

O3/A1. Connect with the expertise of the network which has been formed during IO1 and conduct literature review on tools to screen awareness of (ex)prisoners with experience of mental health needs all along the pre- during- post- imprisonment pathway and contribute to IO1’s aims. 

O3/A2. Development of a screening tool tailored to prisoners and former prisoners from 5 partner countries. A questionnaire will be developed for pre-testing, which will be translated and implemented in the 5 partner countries.    

O3/A3. Mapping exercise on partner countries' mental health facilities in prison, outside of prison and how these services interface, and report on the needs of prisoners and former prisoners across 5 partner countries on how the dual stigma of mental health and imprisonment presents a barrier to successful social and vocational resettlement and (re)inclusion.

IO4 – Develop training methodology, learning tools, a train-the-trainer manual and short handbook

​Lead by CPIP – Center for Promoting Lifelong Learning
Timetable - 01/01/2020 to 30/11/2020

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Description

This IO will bring all the outcomes achieved in IO1, IO2 and IO3 together by developing learning methodology, training tools, a train-the-trainer manual and a short handbook.    

Activities

O4/A1. Outcomes from IO2 and IO3 will be analysed so possible learning objectives and corresponding good practices can be outlined. Establish concrete, focused learning objectives in order to provide practical, relevant and transferable skills in a hands-on and participatory way.
O4/A2. Check with local staff for feasible expectations in terms of resources for training delivery and test pre-training learning modules, so that all participants begin training from a similar starting point, regardless of which organisation they come from.

O4/A3. Development of a modularized pilot course around mental health needs in the prison and probation settings, focusing on practical implementation of specific recommendations but flagging broader material. This should include both online and face to face methods of learning, which can be quickly and easily understood and /or translated. A report on this pilot course will be produced.​