Lisa Miller, Prison and Healthcare Recovery Officer
November was a busy month for me travelling from South to North supporting our prisons across the SPS estate to build sustainable Recovery Communities from Within.
Highlights have been the Recovery Essentials Completion Ceremony for our first cohort of residents in HMP Dumfries who are now taking a lead in facilitating their weekly Recovery Cafe and drop in sessions.
Recovery Essentials is also now being delivered to a further cohort of residents in HMP Perth co-facilitated with one of the SRC Peer Supporters, this model of partnership and delivery is also being rolled out to a group of residents in HMP Glenochil and these sessions are being co-facilitated with another of THE SRC Peer Supporters who transferred from HMP Perth in April this year.
The new Women’s CCU in Dundee, The Bella, has also went into partnership with the SRC and I’ve been spending my Wednesday afternoons with the ladies and staff talking all things Recovery and working together to thread Recovery through every part of their Hub and Houses, exciting times for all the residents and building positive recovery pathways for them all to link in with in the community.
Prisoner Week was the last week of November and the Chaplaincy team invited me to attend as a Guest Speaker on November 22nd. The theme this year was Grace, something I identify with in my own Recovery journey, 4 workshops were held with residents and staff throughout the day and next steps are further partnership working in the New Year to further develop the Women’s Recovery Cafe and launch a Recovery Hub for the male residents.
It has been a busy and exciting month building on our vision of collaboration and co-production with staff and residents within our prisons at an operational level as well as linking in strategically with all stakeholders to ensure all residents in Scottish prisons can engage with an authentic Recovery Journey.
Lisa
