Restorative Practices in Institutional Settings: The Challenges of Contractualised Support within the Managed Community of Supported Housing

Jonathan Hobson, Brian Payne, Kenneth Lynch and Darren Hyde
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Jonathan Hobson: School of Natural and Social Sciences, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, UK
Brian Payne: School of Applied Social and Policy, Ulster University, Newtownabbey BT37 0QB, UK
Kenneth Lynch: School of Natural and Social Sciences, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, UK
Darren Hyde: School of Natural and Social Sciences, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, UK

Laws, 2021, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Supported housing services provide help to some of the most vulnerable in society, yet across the world face increasing pressures from residualisation in the form of service reduction and stretched budgets. In response to these challenges, providers of supported housing and other similar community-focused services have sought alternative and innovative methods of engagement. This paper reports on one such example, the Restorative Communities Programme, which took place in 2018 in a residential supported housing setting for males aged 16–25. Designed as a five-week programme, it aimed to offer a proactive intervention promoting the benefits of restorative thinking. The research team observed the sessions and conducted follow-up qualitative interviews after two weeks and one year. This paper considers the challenges and success of the programme, reflecting particularly on issues of contractualised support and its impact on participation, and the dynamics of running such programs within the ‘managed community’ of a supported housing project. As such, the paper provides a useful analysis for others exploring the development and use of restorative projects in institutional settings, such as prisons, probation, and schools, and particularly those services struggling with the pressures of residualisation.

Keywords: restorative justice; restorative practice; supported housing; criminal justice; community; institutional settings; residualisation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D78 E61 E62 F13 F42 F68 K0 K1 K2 K3 K4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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