A day in the life: Lewis, Recovery Worker in our Criminal Justice Team

What inspired you to start working in prison support?

I previously worked in a criminal justice role, but I was not able not go into any prisons at that time. It has felt like a natural progression, a new challenge; especially, as the idea of doing groups in a prison setting was intimidating to me.

What does a typical day look like for you when you are there?

I usually get there a bit early and make my way over to the education building. As it is a SMART recovery meeting that I am there to facilitate, I will have a printed copy of the opening statement which needs to be read by myself before each meeting, sometimes I will ask for a volunteer from the group to read it, and I will also have tool worksheets to be completed together as a group which I will demonstrate using a flipchart.

How do you measure or feel the impact of your work?

I measure it by keeping a record of how many participants engage with support from week to week, and how many return to the next meeting after initially attending. I can feel the impact of the work by how participants engage during the sessions. I have seen people be very ambivalent initially, sitting on the outside looking in at the group, to becoming more interested in what is being discussed and then literally pulling their chairs in closer to be part of the group discussion.

What are your hopes for the people you support?

If the people, I am working with are committed to their recovery and want to continue to access support with The Matthew Project upon release then that it is an incredibly positive outcome. Training people in recovery and giving them the tools to recognise their triggers and deal with their urges when they occur is especially important as prison seems for some people to be an enforced detox, but when they are out it could be very easy to relapse. I hope to help people look at their underlying thoughts and feelings, accepting them to change their behaviour and relationship to substances, with the aim of hopefully lessening the likelihood of reoffending.

How do you cope with the emotional weight of the job?

I make sure to take annual leave quite often. I discuss any issues I am having with my manager during supervision. If I am struggling in a role or in my personal life, I will use self-help tools to manage stress such as mindfulness and am also open to seeking out counselling, whether through work or independently.

What keeps you going when things get tough?

I look at how far I have come. I speak to myself and tell myself that is okay to be anxious or afraid when trying new things.