Project „Specialized programs for work with prisoners with low intellectual level and people with mental health problems“, Contract ¹ 93-00-202/02.04.2015 is funded Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014,
Program BG15 "Correctional Services including Non-custodial Sanctions"




08.08.2016
Conference brought a prison workers project to an end

Konfnf 180 1Closing conference under Project “Specialized Programmes for Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Mental Disorders” was held in the Conference Hall of hotel “Hebar” – Pazardzhik.

The goal of the project is to boost the capacity of the personnel working in places of imprisonment for applying specialized reeducation programmes.

Workers from prisons in Pazardzhik and the country took part in the conference as well as representatives of institutions related to the subject of discussion.

The project examined the prison workers’ training needs of applying specialized resocializing programmes for people with mental disorders and low intellectual level; analyzed and assessed the programmes for training of workers as well as the programs for people with mental disorders and people with low intellectual capacity; developed two programmes – one for people with low intellectual capacity and one for Konfnf 180 2people with mental disorders; conducted a training for trainers with 10 prison workers; trained 20 workers from places of imprisonment under a specialized programme for resocialization of imprisoned people with low intellectual capacity and another 20 workers under the programme for resocialization of imprisoned people with mental disorders; assessed the efficiency of the developed programmes and issued Guidance for Specialized Programmes Application; conducted individual supervisions of the trainees as well as of the workers applying the two specialized programmes.

Crime Prevention Fund – IGA is the leading organization under the project and Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is its partner.

The project has been funded by the Norwegian financial mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective services including no enforcement of detention measures”.


31.07.2016
Individual supervisions of trainers from Directorate General „Execution of Punishments”

SuperviziyaA number of supervisions of workers from prisons in the country was concucted within project „Specialized Programmes for Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Mental Disorders”

For this purpose two experts were hired to conduct supervisions of both trainers and workers applying two specialized programmes which were developed under project „Specialized Programme for Resocialization of Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity” and project „Specialized Programme for Resocialization of Imprisoned People with Mental Disorders”. Before starting to work, the experts designed a model for conducting the individual supervisions as well as a schedule for the conduction itself.

There was a supervision with every single one of the already trained for this purpose 10 trainers from the system of Directorate General „Execution of Punishments” – 53 supervisions altogether.

Supervisions were conducted not only during the three trainings but also during visits to the places themselves.

The project has been funded by the Norwegian financial mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 „Corrective Services Including Non-Custodial Sanctions”.


29.07.2016
Efficiency assessment of trainings for prison workers

180 27.09.2016After a series of trainings under Project “Specialized Programmes for Work with Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Mental Disorders”, experts made an efficiency assessment of their conduction of the trainings. Through interviews with the participants in the trainings and surveys filled in by the participants, the experts examined whether the developed educational programmes were efficient and whether they needed to be changed. For this purpose the specialists in the efficiency assessment participated in the trainings themselves and took feedback from each trainee on the spot.

Their main conclusions of the trainers are about the following issues: In both trainings, especially in the one for work with people with mental disorders, an improvement can be observed, which is mainly in the theoretical knowledge of the trainees; The cases is the most wanted additional material to the programmes and in general the exercises and the role games receive the highest grades from the trainees; Despite the comparatively high grades, there are doubts about the practicality of the programmes and their elements as well as about their conformity to the needs of the target groups. This requires even bigger synchronization of the training and the practice in the future; On the other hand, this determines the need of tracing the long-term effect from the conducted trainings.

As a final outcome of the experts’ activity, the final version of the educational programmes was developed, as well as the Guidance for Applying Specialized Programmes, which is already published.

Project “Specialized Programmes for Work with Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Mental Disorders” has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective Services Including Non-Custodial Sanctions”.


26.07.2016
Guidance for training of workers from places of imprisonment

Koriza Feis“Guidance for training of workers from places of imprisonment” was developed and published within project “Specialized Programmes for Work with Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Mental Disorders”. The edition is an outcome of examining the needs for training of workers from places of imprisonment.

The need of building and developing a system for a continuing training and qualification of the workers in the penitentiary system is undisputed. Such a training would guarantee developing their professional attitude and improving the quality of work with people with low intellectual capacity and people with mental disorders. These individuals constitute a high percentage of the offenders serving a term of imprisonment at the places of imprisonment.

The main goal of the proposed educational programme is to provide quality education through a training of trainers, specialists in the penitentiary system, who will acquire knowledge and skills for training adults. This training is going to provide the workers with knowledge and skills, which will help them in their everyday professional duties. All this knowledge and skills are in accordance with the international and national standards for work at places of imprisonment and in consistency with the workers’ needs. The training is going to broaden and deepen their knowledge and practical skills in particular areas of their work or in the work with specific groups of offenders through the implementation of individual and group methods of interaction.

The guidance presents the programme in three parts: Training of workers from places of imprisonment as future trainers; Training of workers from places of imprisonment for work with a specialized programme for resocialization of people with low intellectual capacity; Training of workers from places of imprisonment for work with a specialized programme for resocialization of people with mental disorders.

The structure of the programmes aims at helping the participants deal with anxiety which is an inseparable part of the educational process for both the trainer and the trainee.

Project “Specialized Programmes for Work with Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Mental Disorders” has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective Services Including Non-Custodial Sanctions”.


18.07.2016
Training under specialized programme for resocialization of imprisoned people with mental disorders

Novina psih.problemiTraining under specialized programme for resocilization of imprisoned people with mental disorders took place in Bansko from 10th till 17th July. Representatives of prisons in Sofia, Belene, Pazardzhik, Lovech, Plovdiv, Varna, Stara Zagora, Pleven, Vratsa, Burgas, and Kremikovtsi prison hostel took part in the training activity.

The aim of the project was to train five prison workers who would consequently take the role of trainers of the other workers. In this way the trainers and the workers became colleagues and the other experts had only a supporting role.

The topics covered concepts such as mental norm, mental pathology, mental disorder, and mental problems – similarities and differences, as well as more specialized areas such as psychotic and unpsychotic disorders, peculiarities in the behaviour of individuals with mental problems and mechanisms of their behaviour, subjectivity of the behaviour of individuals with mental problems, etc.

At the end of the training process discussions with all participants were held and all participants filled in Surveys with the aim to assess the efficiency of the developed trainng programme.

Project „Specialized Programmes for Work with Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Mental Disorders” has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 „Corrective Services Including Non-Custodial Sanctions”.


27.06.2016
Twenty prison workers from the whole country trained under a specialized programme

1 OBUCHENIYA 12.07.2016Training of workers from places of imprisonment under Specialized Programme for Resocialization of Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity was held at hotel “Philadelphia” in the period 19th-26th June.

Twenty workers from the prisons in Varna, Sliven, Stara Zagora, Plovdiv, Sofia, Belene, Lovech, Vratsa, Pazardzhik, Burgas, Bobov Dol, and Reformatory School “Boytchinovtsi” took part in the training.

The actual trainers were five of the people who had already been trained during the first training under the project. There were also three expert-trainers who were only supporting the main trainers.

The main topics discussed the characteristics of people with low intellectual capacity in various aspects. Both the individual and the group work with people with low intellectual capacity were presented and special attention was paid on the issues accompanying conflict resolution.

During the training there was an individual supervision with the trainees as well as a supervision with the prison workers who are going to apply the specialized programme for resocialization of imprisoned people with low intellectual capacity.

In order to improve the final result of the training there were two experts assessing efficiency whose role was to gather and discuss feedback from the trainees in relation to the developed educational programmes.

The Project has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective Services Including Non-Custodial Sanctions”.


17.06.2016
Training of prisoner workers under specialized programmes

180 Obuch 17.06.2016Traning of trainers was held from 5th to 12th June in Park Hotel “Troyan” within project “Specialized Programmes for Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Mental Disorders”. Workers from the prisons in Burgas, Stara Zagora, Vratsa, Sofia, and Lovech took place in the training.

The major topics that were discussed during the training were in relation to the specificity of the training, the team work of the prison workers as well as the supervision at the places of imprisonment.

The training was conducted by six lecturers who were experts in the particular field. Simultaneously with that an individual supervision with those being trained was conducted.

During the training there were two experts assessing the efficiency who were given feedback by those being trained in terms of the developed educational programmes.

The Project has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective Services Including Non-Custodial Sanctions”.


29.02.2016
Seminar discusses programmes for training of prison workers

One-day seminar with parties concerned was held in Hotel “Elbrus” – Velingrad within project “Specialized Programmes for Working with Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Psychiatric Disorders” on 24th February 2016. There were representatives of prisons from Sofia, Pleven, Bobov dol, Plovdiv, Pazardzhik, Varna, Vratsa, Stara Zagora, Belene, Burgas, and Lovech.

The participants were introduced to the results which had been reached within the project, including: the main conclusions from the 13 conducted focus groups; the inquiries conducted with prison workers; the interviews with people at leading positions; the report on monitoring the existing programmes for training of prison workers in the system of prisons to apply specialized programmes for working with imprisoned people with low intellectual capacity and with psychiatric disorders; the report on monitoring the programmes for working with imprisoned people with low intellectual capacity and with psychiatric disorders which are used by Directorate General “Execution of Punishments” and the prisons themselves. The two newly-developed programmes – for working with imprisoned people with low intellectual capacity and with imprisoned people with psychiatric disorders, aroused particular interest.

The seminar ended with a discussion on questions which had been asked. It turned out that according to the participants there was a huge need of trainings for prison personnel since most of the workers had not undergone such trainings before they started their jobs there.


25.01.2016
Examining workers’ needs of training in the penitentiary system

path 43838 12.02.2016Within Project “Specialized Programmes for Work with Individuals with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Psychiatric Disorders” it was conducted a survey examining the needs of training for specialized programmes for work with people with low intellectual capacity and people with psychiatric disorders in prisons. It was also conducted an analysis of the active training programmes with these target groups in Directorate General “Execution of Punishments” (DGEP) and in the separate prisons. The survey was conducted through inquiries, focus groups, and structured interviews with personnel and managers working at places of imprisonment. There was also a quality analysis of active training programmes conducted in the prisons and available Master’s programmes training specialists for work in the penitentiary system, which are provided by various universities in Bulgaria. On the basis of the received results, the following conclusions were drawn:

The initial training of the workers in the penitentiary system is compulsory by law and is conducted in the training centre in Pleven. It is useful but not sufficient. Further qualification and trainings of the workers in the penitentiary system are most often related to increasing their competence in foreign languages, psychology, and computer literacy. These are rather a result of a personal initiative and not a purposeful and systematic policy by DGEP and they are rarely related to the nature of the everyday professional activity or to the peculiarities of the contingent.

There is a clear need of a more thorough training focused on improving the social-educational activity with individuals with low intellectual capacity and individuals with psychiatric disorders, crisis interventions, overcoming conflicts, etc.

There is a clear need of creating and developing a system for a continuing training and qualification of the workers, characterized by regularity, proper thematic structuring, and adequacy in terms of their needs and necessities.

Basic characteristics of the initial and the continuing professional training are the necessity of subjects related to work with individuals with psychiatric disorders including people addicted to psychoactive substances, people with peculiarities in their behavior which have negative effect on their integration in the community and on their serving the term of imprisonment, as well as people with conspicuous low intellectual capacity.

Another need which has been pointed out is the preparation in organizing and conducting an individual and group work with people with low intellectual capacity and people with psychiatric disorders.

The workers in the penitentiary system are expected to be practically oriented for the most part and the trainings are expected to be conducted by people who have experience in the penitentiary system and in the corrective programmes applied in DGEP.


03.12.2015
Developing programmes for work with imprisoned people with psychiatric disorders and low intellectual capacity

Zatvori 3Two specific programmes for work with imprisoned people with specific needs with low intellectual capacity and with psychiatric disorders were developed within Project “Specialized Programmes for Work with Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and Psychiatric Disorders”.
The first programme for imprisoned people with low intellectual capacity was based on the reports already made by the experts as well as on the rich experience of the leading organization. For the development it was used the edition “Set of instruments for specifying the educational level of offenders”.
In short, the programme will use an integrated approach towards individuals with low intellectual capacity (mostly from Roma origin) – an individual approach according to the specific needs of the person, a specialized evaluation of the educational and professional skills, motivational training, orientation towards literacy and educational courses, and a training in basic skills and competences.
The second programme for imprisoned people with psychiatric disorders is based on the reports from the surveys conducted so far but for its basis it uses the programme “Adaptation” which is applied in the system of prisons. Important elements in the identification of individuals with psychiatric disorders are included in it. The preliminary introduction of the workers to the system with the possible cognitive disorders, individual deviations, and mental disorders is a condition for an early and safe recognition of such possible derangements and their early and adequate treatment.
Both programmes include guidances for their application.

07.09.2015
Interviews with people at leading positions in prisons and in Directorate General “Execution of Punishments” DGEP

index 12.02.2016The activity is a survey examining the needs of trainings for personnel in prisons in the country whose work is directly related to dealing with people with psychiatric disorders and low intellectual capacity. The survey includes all 12 prisons in the country and Reformatory “Boychinovtsi”. The activity assists the development of a more precise picture of the existing needs of the target group.

The semi-structured interviews with people at leading positions in prisons and in DGEP were conducted by two experts. After that a report with a summary of the data from the surveys was prepared.

The interviewed managers working in prisons and in DGEP have been in the penitentiary system for 10-16 years and the period of holding the leading position has been from one month to sixteen years.

According to them, the number of imprisoned people with psychiatric disorders is not low as a whole and this hinders their whole activity of re-socializing which is implemented in the penitentiary institutions. They also think that the number of people with psychiatric disorders, who have been accommodated in their institutions, is between 5%-80% from all imprisoned people. At the places where the number is 5%-15% re-socializing is still possible, but at those places where the percentage is higher, this is extremely difficult.

According to the majority of the interviewed, the imprisoned people with low intellectual capacity are between 45%-75%. The people with psychiatric disorders and the people with low intellectual capacity at the places of imprisonment create pressure in the community and break the inner rules. The prisons do not have the necessary conditions for people with psychiatric disorders because the doctors cannot always help them adequately. This is why these people have to often be taken out of prisons in order to receive timely and adequate doctor’s help.

According to the interviewed, the people working in places of imprisonment are as a whole prepared to work with individuals with psychiatric disorders and low intellectual capacity since they have studied psychology and pedagogics. They believe that there is a system of diagnostics of intellectual level which is applied in prisons, but this system is not integrated for everyone. Others point out the existence of an external system of diagnostics of intellectual level which is applied by specialists working in the Inspectorate of Education.

According to the majority of the interviewed, DGEP does not have specialized assessment or programmes for individuals with psychiatric disorders available. Different methods are used in psychology work and when necessary, a consultation with a psychiatrist is done. They believe that it would be much better if every prison has such a specialist. This is why presently there is a vacancy but in most of the prisons it is not occupied.

The conclusions are that in order to optimize the direct work with people with low intellectual capacity and psychiatric disorders in the conditions of the penitentiary system, it is necessary to: improve the material basis and the equipment in prisons; make the necessary legal changes; provide well-prepared staff – psychiatrists, psychologists; constantly increase the qualification of the personnel in prisons in their work with the target groups; increase the number of meetings for exchange of experience; create a multifunctional team (Inspectors “Social Activity and Educational Work”), psychologist, psychiatrist, and trained workers from the warders’ stuff), etc.
03.09.2015
Inquiry in prisons examines the existing system

images 12.02.2016In the period June-August 2015 an anonymous inquiry was conducted among 115 workers in prisons in the country. The survey was conducted within Project “Specialized Programmes for Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Psychiatric Disorders”. It aims at increasing the capacity of the workers in places of imprisonment in applying specialized reforming programmes in the prisons in Bulgaria in accordance with the best European standards.

The profile of the respondents includes: 66% men and 34% women from which 97% with high education and at a medium age of 43 years old.

The method which was used aims at reaching the first goal of the project – examining the existing system of preparation of the personnel in the places of imprisonment and the existing necessities of the workers in prisons to apply specialized re-socializing programmes for people with psychiatric disorders and low intellectual capacity.

The indicated answers identify the most important factors for a more efficient work aiming at optimizing the communication between the workers and the imprisoned people. There is certain insecurity in the workers when applying their approaches as well as a need of validating the individual interventions and copying with work through teamwork trainings, sharing experience, and relating to international practices. As additional fields of training the respondents have pointed out those with juridical subject matter as well as an initial training for the newly arrived workers.

The results from the inquiry will be summarized and analyzed with the aim to be used in the development of the programmes for training.

September 3rd


31.08.2015
Report analyzes the training programmes of workers in prisons

Experts from Fund – IGA made an overview of the existing programmes for training of workers in prisons. The processes were conducted in cooperation with Directorate General “Execution of Punishments” as well as with workers from the separate prisons. For this purpose several of the imprisonment institutions were visited and the activity finished with the preparation of a thorough report on the topic. There was a special focus on the programme “Adaptation” which is applied when the people sentenced to imprisonment enter prisons, literacy programmes, and programmes for increasing the individual and social skills.
Several conclusions were drawn:
The professional training of the workers in the places of imprisonment involves basic disciplines directly related to the operational activity while there is a general lack of disciplines and topics in which to acquire the so called portable skills such as teamwork, communicative skills, etc.
In the professional training of the workers in prisons there is a general lack of trainings where the workers can acquire purposeful knowledge and acquire skills for work with individuals with psychiatric disorders and individuals with a low intellectual capacity.
It is necessary for the initial professional training to be conducted in due time because the lack of knowledge and skills on behalf of the workers can lead to making mistakes due to ignorance.
In order for the quality of the professional training to be increased there should be a more active usage of the existing training programmes developed by NGO-s within various projects.
The professional training might increase if university lecturers from the respective scientific sphere in which a deficiency has been identified take part in the inside trainings.
It is necessary for Directorate General “Execution of Punishments” to provide financial opportunities for the participation of workers in prisons in different national and international conferences as well as the more frequent organization of national scientific-practical conferences in which the different personnels from all prisons in the country will be able to exchange good practices.

18.08.2015
Focus Groups study the need for training of the workers in prisons in specific spheres

burgas zatvorA series of Focus Groups was conducted in the period June-August 2015 in the following cities: Plovdiv, Sliven, Stara Zagora, Pleven, Bobov Dol, Varna, Burgas, Vratsa, Boychinovtsi, Lovech, Belene, and Sofia. The activity is part of the project for studying the training needs of workers in prisons. Its implementation has been coordinated by Fund UGA. The participants answered the following important questions: Is there currently a system for training of workers in prisons in the country and what is it?; Does it satisfy the needs of the participants in the Focus Groups?; What are the main difficulties which the participants meet in their work with the imprisoned individuals?; What are the specific goals of an additional training of the participants in the Focus Groups aiming to increase their competence and preparation as workers dealing with individuals with psychiatric disorders and individuals with low intellectual capacity?
Since in the existing system for training and increasing the qualification of the penitentiary workers there are no specific topics for work with individuals with low intellectual capacity the participants showed a great interest and took an active participation in the discussions. They shared their points of view and made suggestions for topics to be included in future programmes for work with imprisoned people from the specified target groups.
The project has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective services including non-custodial sanctions”.

07.08.2015
Studiyng the training needs of the personnel in prisons

The activities under the project started with studying the needs for a training of the workers in prisons in Bulgaria who work directly with individuals with psychiatric disorders and with individuals with a low intellectual capacity. The survey included all prisons in the country including reform school “Boychinovtsi”. This research activity will create a very precise depiction of the existing needs of the target group. The goal of the activity and the project is for the workers to apply specialized re-socializing programmes for individuals with psychiatric disorders and individuals with a low intellectual capacity.
Experts from Fund – IGA developed methods for the survey which includes methods for conducting focus groups, a model for an anonymous inquiry card, and a design of a semi-structured interview with people in leading positions in the prisons and in Directorate General “Execution of Punishments”.
The activity will finish with the preparation of reports from the 13 conducted focus groups, the implemented inquiries and interviews as well as with a final analytic report from all surveys.

25.06.2015
Conducting Focus Groups in the Prison – Pazardzhik

Zatvor PzFocus Group with the workers in the Prison was conducted on 24 June 2015 in Prison – Pazardzhik. This was within Project “Studying the Training Needs of Workers in Prison for Applying Specialized Resocializing Programmes for Individuals with Psychiatric Disorders and Individuals with Low Intellectual Capacity”. The event is part of the survey of the training needs of workers in the prisons in Bulgaria for applying specialized resocializing programmes for individuals with psychiatric disorders and individuals with low intellectual capacity.
Twelve workers from the prison and two experts-facilitators from Fund IGA took part in the Focus Group.
It was conducted according to methods specially developed for it. The participants were introduced to the basic goals and activities of the project and shared their points of view on all questions related to their needs of training. Part of the Focus Group was the conduction of a discussion on two main topics: the existing systems for training in prisons as well as the need for additional knowledge and skills for work with individuals with psychiatric disorders and the existing evaluations and programmes for work with individuals with low intellectual capacity. The participants made suggestions for future trainings and specific topics to be included in them. Focus Groups will be conducted in all prisons in the country. After they finish in August a general report will be made.
The Project has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 “Corrective services including non-custodial sanctions”.

09.06.2015
Project increases the capacity of the personnel at prison

P1030825 09.06.2015An opening conference under project “Specialized Programmes for Working with Imprisoned People with Low Intellectual Capacity and People with Mental Disorders” with a leading organization – Crime Prevention Fund – IGA was held on 8th June at the Press Club of the Bulgarian News Agency – Pazardzhik.

Participants in the event were representatives of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” – partner under the project, Prison – pazardzhik, Regional Office “Execution of Punishments”, police offices, the court, the prosecutor’s office, non-governmental organizations, experts of Fund – IGA, etc.

The project aims at increasing the capacity of the personnel at imprisonment institutions for applying specialized programs for reforming. The activities are focused on examining the training necessities of the personnel at prison for applying specialized resocializing programmes for people with mental disorders and low intellectual capacity; analyzing and assessing the applied programmes for training of personnel and the used programmes; developing new programmes for imprisoned people with mental disorders as well as new programmes for training or personnel to apply the programmes.

The project has been funded by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism 2009-2014 under Programme BG15 <<Corrective services including non-custodial sanctions>>.