What are your initial thoughts when you think of a Prison Officer?

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• What are your initial thoughts when you
  think of a Prison Officer?

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Therapeutic AllianceWearing Two Hats as a
Prison Officer

• Officer Laura Smillie
• Officer Emma Guthrie

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Prison Service Statement of Purpose

• "Her Majesty's Prison Service serves the public
  by keeping in custody those committed by the
  courts. Our duty is to look after them with
  humanity and help them lead law-abiding and
  useful lives in custody and after release."

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Aims

• Explore some of the challenges a Prison Officer
  faces when working in a therapeutic role with
  female offenders.

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• Have your earlier views altered?

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What Can Make This Balance Challenging?

• Maintaining Security
• Use of Control and Restraint
• Searching
• Self-harm
• Intense Emotions (including ours!)
• Mental Illness
• Negative Views of Authority

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Additional Difficulties - Staff

• They should get nothing
• Theyre a lost cause
• Why do you care what happens to them after what
  they did
• I cant believe you get paid to do that
• Lock them up and throw away the key
• Here come the care bears
• Why try to rehabilitate theyll never change

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How We Try To Obtain a Therapeutic Alliance

• Want to do the job in the first place
• Be consistent yet responsive to situations.
• Transparent
• Empathic
• Dont take things personally
• Be persistent yet know when to leave it and move
  on
• Patient
• Know the people you work with
• Stay positive
• Sense of humour never lose it!!

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not your friend, someone who cares cares
about your situation..
I had no respect for officers, I would
continuously kick out punch.
staff had to intervene, if they hadnt I
wouldnt be here now.
as soon as an officer came into my room Id
jump on them..
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Conclusions

• We work in a challenging environment and we
  believe a balance can be made but you have to
  want to make that balance.
• As weve highlighted there are increasing numbers
  of females being held in custody who have complex
  needs therefore isnt it more important to ensure
  we wear TWO HATS!

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Thank You

• Any Questions?
• laura.smillie_at_hmps.gsi.gov.uk
  emma.guthrie_at_hmps.gsi.gov.uk