The sessions each identify elements which directly relate to the participants relationships with others both inside and outside of prison. With an emphasis upon communication skills each session explores issues which develop themes essential for participants to consider prior to release.

The course consists of 6 sessions that explore the following areas:

Negotiation skills - To understand negotiation skills. To develop good listening skills in relation to negotiation. To develop empathy. Awareness of mediation skills. Conflict resolution skills.

Perspective taking - To continue developing perspective taking skills. To put perspective taking skills into practice.

Victim awareness - Defining a ‘victim’. Considering victims. Self victimisation. Effects of crime. Effects of my own crime.

Emotional awareness - To consider unhelpful emotional reactions. To introduce methods to manage these reactions more appropriately. Learning where emotions come from.

Social skills - Understanding social skills. Developing social skills. How Challenge to Change can help my social skills.

Communication skills - Re-affirm previous learning of communication skills. Continue to develop self awareness.

This intervention links in with the two previous modules (Community Living and Focus), to develop interpersonal relationships and social functioning of the participants who have reached this point in the programme. This enhances their commitment and maturity to further explore their potential in making long term changes to integrate into society on release.

Participants will already have a good understanding of basic community concepts and through completing previous modules will have been introduced to knowledge of some of the concepts to be developed during this module. Having the core community knowledge and being more aware of potentially negative or limited thinking through the Focus material clients should be ready to develop previously introduced ideas.