A joint inspection led by HM Inspectorate of Probation, with HM Inspectorate of Prisons, has found Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) is falling well short of expected standards – calling for the model to be overhauled.
“This is a disappointing report that shows young people in prison are being let down, and it is indicative of a system that is under huge pressure. We know that there are good staff trying to do the right thing, but who are simply not being given the time or tools to do so, and people in prison are unfortunately collateral damage. This is a waste of young people’s potential and is holding us all back from making society safer.
Since 2020 we have provided expert, qualified life coaches for prison staff, supporting them with their wellbeing and in their roles, and have seen hugely positive results for those individuals. And for the last 10 years, we have been the only organisation providing coaching specifically to young people in prison, and through the gate, supporting them to unlock their potential. For young people, just knowing that there is someone there for them throughout their journey, who has their back and will stick with them, can make all the difference. As Rob, a young man who was coached by Spark Inside, said:
“Just speaking to my coach, the fact that he could recognise and see that I have a bright future — that gave me more belief and confidence within myself, like I’m going down the right path. My head, my mind is in the right place.”
We believe that coaching, for staff and for young people in prison, has a key role to play in creating the ‘rehabilitative culture’ in prisons that would allow initiatives like the OMiC model to be successful.
You can find out more about our prison staff coaching in our recent blog here, and you can hear first-hand from the young people we’ve coached, and the impact this has had on their lives, here.
If you’d like to know more about our brilliant coaches and the vast, rich experience they bring to their roles, you can find out more here Coaching Quality Standards.”
Vicki Cardwell, CEO
