Supporting relationships is the best way to improve peoples’ wellbeing and confidence and in turn reduce harm and the risk of reoffending. The family programme will help families with their relationships in whatever way is best for them; this could be without having direct contact with each other, but even in this case, there are still relationships which need attention. The programme can be delivered while one parent is in prison.

The family programme complements other Circles interventions that focus on specific roles and positions within the family systems, such as the Non Offending Partner Programme. For the family programme, we will work with whoever is important to the family in question, including friends who are not biologically related to the family.

There are 3 linear routes through the programme following episodic case studies each of which responds to the likely scenarios presented by service users. All are split into relevant topics and designed to assist statutory assessments regarding future decision making. Scenarios include:

• Online and contact sexual offender serving a substantial prison sentence. Issues include impact on the family and value or otherwise of family contact in considering Parole decisions.
• Sexual offender has abused his own children and is serving a substantial prison sentence. Issues include impact on the family and value or otherwise of limited contact with the family on release. This is designed to inform Parole and Child Protection decision-making
• The third scenario involves sibling on sibling sexually harmful behaviour, the care system and can help inform Foster Care and other similar decision-making.