HMP Dovecote is a men’s prison in the East Midlands, run by Serco. The education team are running a small-scale whole organisation approach to practitioner-led action research project. Two managers are being trained as Action Research Leads and they are, in turn, supporting a small group of practitioner-researchers to plan, carry out and present their research findings over a six month period.  Additionally one of the managers is also undertaking a small-scale action research project as part of the emCETT 2014-2015 programme.

The CPD materials, developed by emCETT for the PLAR programme, have been adapted to fit the requirements of HMP Dovegate. The Regional Adviser has developed and delivered a training session for the Action Research Leads, and co-developed four one-hour peer working groups. These are currently being delivered over a 12-1pm lunch time slot. These practitioner-researchers are being supported by an allocated Action Research Lead.

You can access the presentations for each peer working group below.

PWG 1: What is PLAR?
PWG 2: How to critically analyse and present data
PWG 3: Designing research reports
PWG 4: Drop in session

Top Tips from Action Research Leads for offender learning institutions thinking of delivering WOA to PLAR projects 

Do prisoners want the employment process at HMP Dovegate to prepare them for applying for jobs upon release?

Format: Presentation

Speaking and Listening Skills & Speech and Language Development in Custody. Do they need improving?

Format: Presentation

The benefits of Tapestry for Prisoners through Fine Cell Work and the links towards employability of Prisoners in the future.

Format: Presentation

Using Cognitive Acceleration to develop problem solving skills in the offending learning environment

Format: e-book