Choices Consultancy Service

How we can help

Visitors Centres
Choices Visitors Centres offer a safe, welcoming environment where all visitors are met with dignity and respect, up-to-date information is provided as well as support and guidance.

Children's Play Service
Choices provide supervised play to children aged 0 to 17yrs. The play sessions run during visiting times. Choices encourage all children to spend time with their fathers whilst visiting, providing toys, games and drawing materials for children to play with in the play area and at the table with dad.

Family Visits
Choices deliver one family day per month in each prison establishments. Choices provide a range of activities for the whole family and organise a buffet lunch enabling families a sense of 'normality' by enjoying a meal together. These visits promote positive interaction within family units.

Child Centred Visits (CCVs)
CCV's are delivered six times per year in each establishment, they are held during school holidays. The focus of these visits is centred around the child/children. During the CCV fathers are actively encouraged and supported to positively engage with their children through play. CCVs provide an opportunity for fathers and their children to bond in a way that is not often possible during a normal domestic visit.

Inductions/First Night Centre
Choices staff approach prisoners during their induction process/first night in prison, with the aim to highlight possible needs and promote available services. A needs analysis and follow-up work is undertaken on every prisoner. Ongoing family support generated from this is also provided.

Family Conference Meetings
Family Conference Meetings (FCM). Choices offer FCMs to all new prisoners. Choices identify (through an assessment of needs process performed during the prisoners first week induction meeting) reception prisoners who would benefit from family/significant other support. Such prisoners along with their family/significant other members are invited to attend a family conference meeting facilitated by Choices. These meetings are designed to identify and examine areas of need for all parties.

Catering
Choices runs 'Healthy Choices' T. Bars providing refreshments that are both wholesome and affordable to prisoners and their visitors during visits.