Blog

A look inside Ingeus’ Dependency & Recovery Services

28 Jan 2025

Carrie Peters, Director of Justice Services, discusses the crucial role of support systems in addiction recovery and how Ingeus’ Dependency and Recovery services are making a difference for people navigating the justice system and their path to recovery.

In September 2024, I had the pleasure of attending the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA) annual conference in Singapore. One of the keynote speeches was made by eminent professor, David Best, expert in the field of addiction and how it relates to desistance from offending. I wanted to start this blog by quoting David and the opening statement in his 2019 HMIP Academic Insights paper*.

‘Over the course of a number of research studies on addiction recovery, conducted between 2008 and 2019, in Scotland, England, Wales, the US and Australia, I have collected over 2,000 personal accounts of addiction recovery. They are incredibly varied and show the most amazing reserves of courage, commitment and determination – but they all have one common feature. Nobody does it alone’.

Ingeus delivers services designed with this in mind. Our Dependency and Recovery (D&R) services are offered to people leaving custody or on probation in North Yorkshire, parts of West Yorkshire and across the North East. These specialist services are commissioned by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) as part of their Commissioned Rehabilitative Services (CRS) for men in the justice system. Navigating complex treatment and justice systems requires courage and determination. Having someone to travel all or part of this journey with you makes all the difference, and our D&R services do just that!

Following a referral from a Probation Practitioner, each person is assigned to a Navigator who carries out a comprehensive assessment of their needs and then puts together an Action Plan to address those needs. They can also be supported by a D&R Guide, many of whom have lived experience of recovery and the justice system themselves, bringing insight, empathy, hope and inspiration.

Our Navigators and Guides help people on probation to engage with treatment, to maintain their motivation, and to find meaningful ways to support their ongoing recovery. This includes helping them develop new pastimes and linking them up with new community support networks. Wellbeing walks are a popular intervention, helping people to adjust their focus by being mindful about their surroundings, as illustrated by this quote from an Ingeus Navigator about one of our participants.

‘He [the service user] had previously told me that he had the ambition for many years to go to the top of Durham Cathedral. I made that happen for him. I purchased our tickets, and we went up the 325 steps. When we got to the top, he said, "Wow, I'm blown away. This is beautiful". We spent 45 minutes up the top and he was telling me that he now intends on getting his partner to go back up with him. He said that he knew it would be nice but never imagined it would be so beautiful. We had a discussion about distraction again. I pointed out that this was a distraction. This is just one thing that he has the choice to do. He understood and said that he really enjoys doing new things and seeing new places.’

A crucial part of what Ingeus does is work closely with a wide network of partners, both formally as part of our supply chain and more informally alongside a broader community network. Building strong relationships with health and treatment providers is central to this service and has been key to our successful delivery and ability to support our service users throughout their journeys. 

In terms of delivery partners, we work with addiction specialist, Waythrough, who second their staff to work alongside Ingeus Navigators and Guides; Geese Theatre, who deliver their highly engaging USED programme in our Yorkshire prison sites; and The Recovery Foundation, who support our teams to deliver the Hope and Recovery programme that helps our service users to foster a growth mindset and introduces them to daily journalling which has been hugely impactful. 

The role of support services, like those provided by Ingeus, is so important in offering guidance, encouragement, and companionship. By walking alongside people on their journey of recovery, our Navigators and Guides empower them to overcome challenges, stay motivated, and build a brighter future. The consistently positive eedback from our service users, Probation Practitioners, and treatment providers is evidence of the positive difference that can be made.

* ‘His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation: A model for resettlement based on the principles of desistance and recovery’ David Best. HM Inspectorate of Probation Academic Insights 2019/03.