TSP
A new (15 May 2025) qualitative evaluation of HMPPS’ accredited Thinking Skills Programme (TSP) delivered in prison makes for an interesting read. There have been plenty of quantitative studies but less research which has focused on participant experiences, their engagement with the programme and their ability to apply learning in everyday life. The research is based on 50 in-depth face-to-face interviews with male and female adults who had completed the programme in eight different prisons. The interviews focused on participants’ TSP journey, their decision to engage, and their experiences during and after the programme. Interview topics included motivation, relationships, responsivity, personal relevance, enablers and barriers to participating, impact of the prison environment, and the application of learning. The research team consisted of Nicholas Blagden, Luke Vinter, Eve Penford, Jade Mason & Polly Delliere-Moor from the University of Derby.
Five key themes
The analysis highlighted the following five main themes:
Groundwork to Cultivate Change
Participants’ readiness for change was intricately linked to internally driven motivations, often arising from pivotal life moments such as family commitments or personal maturity. Externally driven motivations such as sentence plans or parole requirements can mean that completing TSP is perceived by some participants as a form of ‘box ticking’ and can lead to disengagement. These findings highlight the dynamic interplay between internal and situational factors, emphasising the need for appropriate timing in selecting people onto TSP.
Facilitators of Change
The role of programme facilitators was critical in creating genuine, reciprocal relationships that fostered trust and openness. Facilitators who showed genuine interest and actively listened to participants helped build trust and engagement. Tailored delivery methods, such as visual aids and interactive techniques, enhanced understanding and retention of programme material, promoting a supportive and inclusive environment essential for personal change and development.
Seeing Life Through a New Lens
Through structured TSP exercises, participants experienced a profound reassessment of their worldviews and future aspirations. These exercises helped participants gain new perspectives on past experiences, allowing them to disconnect from harmful relationships and set realistic goals for personal development. Future-focused goal setting instilled hope and resilience, and emphasised the transformative potential of cognitive change within cognitive-behavioural programmes such as TSP.
Applying Learning, Reflections, and ‘Doing’ Change
The practical application of TSP skills within the prison environment was a crucial indicator of success. Participants demonstrated the ability to regulate their emotions and engage in rational decision-making during high-stress situations, effectively resisting engaging in prison violence and disturbances. External validation from peers and staff reinforced these changes, supporting ongoing rehabilitation.
Context Hampering Change
Despite the evident benefits of TSP, various barriers within the broader prison context seemed to hinder participants’ progress and programme effectiveness. Reported concerns about participant confidentiality, inconsistent staff support beyond TSP, and the lack of broader structural support post-completion posed significant challenges to engagement and skill retention. Addressing these barriers is crucial for maximising TSP’s effectiveness and supporting participants’ rehabilitation and desistance goals.
Conclusions
Based on these findings, the research team highlighted five key issues to improve the impact of the programme:
- Appropriate Timing: Ensuring the timing of enrolment onto programmes aligns with individual sentences to foster genuine motivation and readiness for meaningful engagement.
- Facilitator Support: Facilitators should continue to focus on building genuine, supportive relationships with participants to create a trusting and open environment for learning.
- Ongoing Support: Providing programme participants with follow-up refreshers, structured interactions and conversations after a programme that help maintain and build on the skills learned.
- Addressing Barriers: Addressing programme participant confidentiality concerns, improving staff support, and ensuring consistent structural support across different prison sites.
- Staff Training: Increase prison staffs’ awareness of the need to support pro-social behaviour in everyday interactions to reinforce participant’s skills for change.
It may well be that these recommendations will be hard to address effectively given the current state of our prison system.
Thanks to Andy Aitchison for kind permission to use the header image in this post. You can see Andy’s work here
