CARAT HMP Shrewsbury

Who we are

The CARAT service at HMP Shrewsbury provides non-clinical drug treatment service to prisoners in order to reduce harm caused by drug use. CARATs are committed to the delivery of a service that addresses and supports the needs of prisoners with substance misuse issues through psychosocial interventions.

The CARAT team at HMP Shrewsbury work within a male, category C, vulnerable prisoners establishment. The CARAT team see all new receptions to offer and explain the service. We also received referrals for clients from; community drug teams, prison staff, probation, healthcare and self referrals. The CARAT team assesses prisoners before providing advice, information, one-one, group work and referrals to other appropriate services within prison and the community, including Drug Intervention Programmes (DIP). CARATs provide harm minimisation one to one work or group work using a number of brief intervention therapy styles including motivational interviewing and solution focussed therapy.

The CARAT team at HMP Shrewsbury offers the following group work sessions that are jointly delivered by the CARAT team and IDTS nurses. These sessions can also be completed on a one to one basis if group work is not suitable:

- Relaxation - Harm Reduction - Overdose - Blood borne viruses - Safer injecting - Drug Awareness - Clinical interventions - How Crack/Cocaine works - Alcohol Awareness - Heroin - Change is possible - Managing Relapse - Triggers & Cravings - Healthy Living - Healthy balanced diet