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Restart Dogs

restart dogs

Leek

n providing modern, positive reinforcement based training to dogs on the programme, the offenders promote responsible animal welfare and effective dog training without violence and confrontation, leading to learners increased empathy, self-regulation, social skills, compassion, responsibility and respect. The people on the Restart Dog Project have, through attachment and interaction with the dogs, gained insights into identifying their own behaviour and the skills to change. Understanding the emotional capacity of the dogs and how this affects their behaviour offers a greater insight into how prisoners/offenders manage their own feelings of frustration and self-control. The skills learnt during the programmes have been a key part of the graduates’ social reintegration. At the same time, the prisoners/offenders have the opportunity to become well trained professionals within the dog training industry gaining qualifications up to a Level 6, which is a foundation degree. The programme is not funded by the taxpayer, and instead is paid for by the Prisoners Fund, which is raised by work that Prisoners undertake during their time in the custodial system for other organisations. Prisoners/offenders who apply to participate in the Restart Dogs program need be engaged in rehabilitation programs and be engaging in the prison system. Our objectives are to develop selected prisoners as dog trainers, to produce dogs suitable as assistance dogs for people in need. As one of our participants eloquently said- “I have lost my freedom, but I can actually help someone else to get theirs back” We work closely with charities and community groups such as Moorlands Dog Rescue, by raising and training potential assistance dogs or retraining rescue dogs.

Restorative Thinking

restorative thinking

Restorative and relational practice is an emerging Social Science, adopted in multiple ways across the UK and beyond by Police and Crime Commissioners, Schools, Local Authorities, Health and Social Care Settings, Prison and Probation Services to address a wide variety of challenges, including: • Positive mental health and wellbeing • Organisational culture change • Staff retention and a reduction in sick leave • Improving attendance, attainment and behaviour in schools • Fostering inclusive residential environments and a reduction in re-offending In 2012, the Restorative Thinking team began delivering face to face training and coaching. In 2013 we also started to develop intervention programmes for a variety of settings and groups: prisons and probation services, schools, youth offending services, parents and carers. Our parenting programme won the CANparent Quality Mark in 2014 and our curriculum programme for primary schools won the Teach Primary Resources Award in 2019. In 2020 we began to develop e-Learning CPD, creating our own learning platform and an innovative blended learning offer for all our working partners, allowing organisations and individuals to access restorative and relational practice via: • e-Learning CPD • Consultation • Face to face training/coaching • Zoom/Teams training/coaching • Action Learning Sets • Supervisions • Guided self-study • Restorative Practice Intervention Programmes Restorative Thinking has a comprehensive offer for working with colleagues in the field of restorative and relational practice. We are able to tailor our provision with each working partner, based on strengths, needs, intended outcomes, budgets. Our team continuously strives to operate and co-operate differently and better – being purposeful about improving our own brand of restorative and relational practice, guided by our belief in (and growing evidence base of) positive outcomes for those we work with.