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East of England

HMP The Mount

Service delivered in prison
The Mount is a Category C men’s prison in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire. We deliver psychosocial substance misuse, 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
  • 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
  • Structured one-to-one counselling and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a trained High Intensity Practitioner.

Substance misuse

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

Programmes
  • Stepping Stones – a low-medium intensity intervention for those whose alcohol or drug consumption is at harmful or dependent levels
  • The Bridge – an intensive abstinence-based programme which outlines the journey to recovery and longer term treatment
  • Fellowships – we co-facilitate Alcoholics, Narcotics and Cocaine Anonymous (AA, NA, CA) meetings
Further interventions
  • We offer a wide range of standalone workshops and in-cell packs aimed at harm minimisation, risk reduction, and relapse prevention
  • One-to-one structured sessions
  • Signposting to other services

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.

Our partners

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

How to refer

Any resident can self-refer to our mental health and substance misuse services. They just have to complete an application or speak to a member of the team. We also accept referrals from other agencies, prison officers, healthcare, and probation. Our IAG advisors see all residents as part of their induction.

Get in touch

Service Manager

Call us: 01442836392

Reach Out

Other sources of help

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Find out more

Forward’s counsellors and key workers showed me that recovery is working on yourself as well as your addiction

Sylvia D, Former Forward client Read Sylvia’s story