Focus is a four-level programme for prisoners in Youth Units. Many of the concepts taught in Focus relate to situations that prisoners face on a recurring basis, as part of daily life.
Participation in Focus encourages prisoners to apply these concepts outside of the programme context.
Focus sessions are interactive. They use conventional group therapy methods as well as tools such as drama, art and storytelling to help participants get the most out of the programme.
Who is eligible?
The programme is aimed at sentenced male prisoners, or those convicted but awaiting sentence, in Youth Units who are at medium risk of reoffending. They must have a RoC*RoI score of over 0.4 for all offence types except sexual offences, which are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
How long does it take?
Focus has four levels delivered as a package over 9-12 months.
Motivation, Basic and Advanced levels are run over 10-12 weeks. Sessions run 2-4 times per week and each session is 1.5 hours. Maintenance is offered to prisoners for at least one hour a week after Advanced Focus and until they are released.
Participants must meet the objectives of each level before they can start the next one.
What does the Focus programme address?
Programme facilitators deliver the programme to groups of up to eight prisoners, helping them to:
The sessions relate to everyday situations that young people have to deal with. The programme encourages participants to practise their new skills outside the group and to receive constructive feedback about how to build on these.
How is someone referred to a Focus programme?
If a prisoner is sentence planned for the programme and is eligible, the prison scheduler places the prisoner on the waitlist for the programme in IOMS.