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East of England

HMP Chelmsford

Service delivered in prison
HMP Chelmsford is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Chelmsford, Essex for men aged 18 and over. We deliver substance misuse (psychosocial and clinical), mental health and employment services at the prison.

How we help

Mental health (IAPT)

Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) is a nationwide programme of talking therapies designed to treat adults with mild to moderate anxiety and depression. Our IAPT therapies are delivered by fully trained and accredited practitioners and tailored in intensity, duration and disorder-focus according to need.

Our wide range of IAPT interventions and services are based on a stepped care model. Our team of Senior Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners, Psychological Wellbeing Practitioners and High Intensity Therapists deliver Step 1 to 3 interventions. Our IAPT interventions mirror those available in the community where possible.

Step 2 interventions include

  • Psycho-educational workshops on various topics e.g. depression, sleep, anxiety management
  • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) sessions with a trained Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner
  • Guided self-help in-cell packs based on CBT principles e.g. exercise, sleep, mindfulness
  • Self-help books on prescription
  • Signposting to other services

Step 3 interventions include
  • Structured one-to-one counselling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a trained High Intensity Practitioner.

Substance misuse

We offer a range of psychosocial and clinical interventions to help clients address their substance misuse.

Programmes
  • Stepping Stones Drug and Alcohol – a low-medium intensity intervention for those whose alcohol or drug consumption is at harmful or dependent levels.
  • Living Safely Drug and Alcohol – a series of workshops exploring the risks associated with drug and alcohol use
  • Fellowships – we co-facilitate Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous (AA, NA) and SMART recovery meetings.
Further interventions
  • Recovery Club – a range of service user led activities such as guitar lessons, gardening, and chess club
  • Clinical services – including opiate substitution therapy (OST) and detoxification
  • Individual key working sessions
  • We offer a wide range of standalone workshops and in-cell packs aimed at harm minimisation, risk reduction and relapse prevention

Employment (IAG)

During the induction process, our information, advice and guidance (IAG) advisors help residents to identify career types and roles best matched to their interests and skills. Based on this information, as well as their prior education, work experience, strengths and areas for development, we then devise an action plan tailored to each resident. We work through the action plan with them in a follow up one-to-one, either face-to-face or using the in-cell phone system.

Working alongside the New Futures Network and other partners, we support residents or learners with their job or apprenticeship search, CV preparation and applications. We also provide disclosure advice and interview practice for residents leaving prison.

Our IAG advisors work closely with other prison teams and our partners in the community to identify the right education courses, distance learning and workshops for our learners.

Housing and resettlement

We have a charitably funded Recovery and Resettlement Worker working at HMP Chelmsford, helping link service users directly into community services on release.

Our partners

Partners
  • New Futures Network
  • CRG
  • Genuis Within
  • Beating the Blues
  • Fellowships: Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous (AA, NA)
  • Phoenix Futures

How to refer

Any resident can self-refer to our IAPT and substance misuse services. They just have to complete an application or speak to a member of the team. We also accept referrals from third parties. If a staff member or third party refers a resident we will assess the resident if they agree to engage. Our IAG advisors see all residents as part of their induction.

Get in touch

Mental health and substance misuse

Call us: 07958724163

Reach Out

Other sources of help

Online chat

Get confidential advice and support from our friendly team.

Find out more

Since completing the programme, I have learnt a lot about myself. My family wants to know me, I’m clean and feeling better. I see where I went wrong and don’t want to go through that again.

Martyn P, Forward client Read Martyn’s story