COVID-19 VISUAL COMMUNICATION TOOLS FOR USE IN SECURE ENVIRONMENTS TO PROTECT RESIDENTS AND EQUIP CLINICAL AND NON-CLINICAL TEAMS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

The Beyond Words team have been working on a COVID-19 pictorial toolkit with Dr Caroline Watson, RCGP Clinical Champion for Healthcare in secure environments, and Mr Michael Emmett, a former prisoner. We have co-created a specific COVID-19 secure environments resource kit for use by healthcare teams, prison officers, education staff, chaplaincy teams and peer support workers over the coming months to support residents who find pictures more accessible than the written word.

The creators of the resource believe that it can be best used in conversation with residents to assist them in exploring what they think and feel about being in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is anticipated that this will help to reduce their anxiety, anger or distress and could be a useful tool in:

• First night and secondary screening process to explain protective health measures such as social distancing, hand washing, and symptoms people might experience with coronavirus
• Providing day to day support including facilitating difficult discussions, such as the importance of shielding, protective isolation, end-of-life care and bereavement
• During the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) process

The following documents are attached and in the right-hand side bar under Useful Resources:

1. Non-language dependent ‘Understanding COVID-19 in Secure Settings’ story in PDF which can be printed on site for distribution to prison officers, chaplaincy teams, education staff, peer mentors and healthcare teams
2. 1-page Quick User guide
3. 1-page Coaching guide on what to cover in a training session for staff or peer support workers e.g. reception orderlies or ‘Listeners’
4. ‘First Night Pack’ leaflet for ‘Understanding COVID-19 in Secure Settings’ to be printed on site and to be used as part of the induction process

A 60 second video introduction to the resource for all prison staff from Dr Caroline Watson is presented below