Forensic Good Practice Guides | Ongoing counselling and extension of counselling request/ Referral policy

Good Practice Guides | Ongoing counselling and extension of counselling request/ Referral policy

Appendix to Referral Policy | Atrium Prison Counselling Service

Ongoing 121 sessions and extension request.

Ongoing 121 counselling

In engaging with the client in 121 sessions we need to mindful of No access visits, DNA’s and communications with the client and wider services we work with.

Appointment letters are sent out as per our session policy weekly, this is proven to ensure clients know they are to be seen, can show appointments to other professionals to ensure they are available for the appointment, and also provide safety and risk reduction. With this DNA’s or No Access visits are reduced.

Definitions and recording of appointments.

121 finished- recording on S1 ledger a completed sessions with clients, on the Atrium session template journal with effective clinical notes, ensuring their next appointment or discharge is recorded with the relevant letter.

DNA- when the client is unwell or refuses to engage. Record on system one on the clinician ledger, and document reason for DNA on their journal with next appointment date and letter recorded.

No Access Visit – when both yourself and client are available for the appointment, however prison regime prevents session from going ahead, some examples of this are no rooms available, lockdown, gym officer not available or refuses to unlock client, and legal or social visit. Due to association also being the time for personal grooming and outside exercise not in prisoners’ control, if this prisoner chooses not to attend at these times it will also be classified as a no access visit, however we will endeavor to arrange session around these times if possible.

Record all unattended sessions on your ledger and document reason for No Access visit with next appointment date and letter recorded.

Extension Requests

Extension requests are emailed to Manager/Service Lead and Assistant Manager for review. Extension are considered when clients have come to end or near end of sessions and an increase in risk or vulnerability is noted either through session dialogue or on their CORE forms. An extension request format is needed.

This format is as follows

• Reason for initial referral
• Outline of work completed up until the current session
• Formulation of work so far and client presentation
• Reason for extension request
• Number sessions requested (up to 6)
• CORE scores from each session up to request.
• What will be planned for extended sessions.

If extension is agreed, notify Supervisor and document on S1 and on CORE Net.

 

 

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