How our service can help you
HMP Whitemoor is a high-secure prison, which means it holds adult male prisoners who are all serving long sentences – many are life sentenced – and some of whom are designated as the most high-risk prisoners in the prison system.
The Fens Service at HMP Whitemoor is within the main prison but a separate wing which provides 70 bed spaces, including 23 transition beds 47 treatment beds. Fens services also provides the main prison with 23 outreach cases for adult male residents, as part of the Offenders with Personality Disorder Pathway (OPDP).The mental health needs of all of these individuals are often highly complex and chronic, having longstanding histories of trauma, experiences high levels of neglect and rejection and are frequently hard to engage within a long-term treatment programme.
For more information about our services click here
Contact the service
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HMP Whitemoor
Longhill Road
March
PE15 0PR
T: 01354 602350 (main switchboard)
T: 01354 602570 (PA to the clinical director)
- Business Hours/Visiting Hours: Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. Visiting Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 1.20pm-3.30pm
Referral Information
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The Fens services are part of the Offenders with Personality Disorder Pathway (OPDP). The key aims of the service are to improve wellbeing and reduce risk of those offenders who are at high risk of violent and sexual re-offending. We are a trauma service and accept referrals from those who have a significant history of trauma and relational and attachment issues. The treatment programme is delivered by a multi-disciplinary team, including prison officers, psychologists, psychotherapists, nurses and a psychiatrist, who work closely together.
Our inclusion criteria requires the following considerations:
- A history of complex trauma and attachment difficulties which impact on a person’s personality and a link between the personality pathology and offending behaviour.
- The person must be a Category A or Category B prisoner who requires placement within the long-term high-security prison estate.
- They must accept some responsibility for their offending. They must not be legally challenging their conviction.
- We accept referrals for cases where there are some developmental and/or neurological difficulties but not those whose IQ falls within the borderline (<70) range.
On average our program is three years, but may longer for those whose presentation is particularly complex. Those referrals who are accepted will be admitted into to our transition spur, which is primarily run by prison officers, to help them prepare for treatment and settle into the service. When a treatment space becomes available they move to a treatment spur when they are deemed ready to start treatment. When in treatment, there is an initial formulation phase of 14 weeks during which time treatment needs are assessed and appropriate pathways and treatment priorities identified. This includes options of a stabilisation phase (aimed at improving emotional and behavioural stability) as well as different modes of delivery to meet individual needs. The treatment phase concentrates on trauma-focused therapy, with work towards integrating an individual’s new identity later in the programme. Treatment aims to address risk throughout the treatment pathway. However, specific offending work may need to take place onwards in other locations within the Offender Personality Disorder Pathway.
If you believe a prisoner may be suitable for assessment by The Fens, you can make a formal referral for assessment using our standardised referral form. This is available from any of the contacts below. If you are unsure whether an individual would be suitable for referral, have any questions about our service or how to refer people, you can contact a member of our referrals team below in the first instance who would be happy to assist you.
- Eros.DiGiacomo@cpft.nhs.uk
- Rosemary.Rooney@cpft.nhs.uk
- James.Riley@justice.gov.uk (referrals administrative co-ordinator)
Where to park and are there parking charges?
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When visiting please park in the free visitor car park:
Is there access and support for patients and visitors with a disability?
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Yes, our clinical bases are accessible. Please ring the team before your appointment to discuss any requirements.
Please head over to Whitemoor prison - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) for more information on visiting.
How to cancel your appointment
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Please call 01354 602800.
