An Organisational Response to Supporting the Complex Needs of Violent and Disruptive Prisoners: Key Performance Indicators from the National Violence Reduction Unit (PID068)

11.30am – 12pm BST, 14 May 2025 ‐ 30 mins

Parallel Workshops

The National Violence Reduction Unit (NVRU) is a secure rehabilitative unit in the Midlands Prison, Ireland. Established in November 2018, the Unit was an organisational response to the complex needs of a small number of high risk, violent and disruptive prisoners (VDPs) in the Irish Prison Service (IPS). Joint operational and clinical leads, namely an Assistant Governor and Senior Psychologist, manage and lead the NVRU. A novel feature of the NVRU is the significantly enhanced role of the Psychology Service in the day-to-day running and management of the unit, along with the importance of a trauma-informed culture, which considers the interactions and communication between staff and prisoners. 
The NVRU has four strategic aims: 1. Reduce repeated serious violent/sexually violent offending; 2. Improve psychological health, well-being and pro-social behaviour of prisoners managed on the unit, while enhancing relational outcomes; 3. Improve competence, confidence and attitudes of staff working with complex prisoners; 4. Introduce higher quality service, increased efficiencies and cost-effectiveness. Evaluating progress towards these aims is the focus of the paper. 
We will present descriptive data on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each of the four strategic aims. 
Descriptive statistics will support analysis of progress towards strategic aims, with comparisons made to previous trends in unit performance.
Discussion will focus on performance related to the strategic objectives of the unit, alongside best practice guidelines. We will discuss the key barriers and facilitators to meeting strategic aims. We will draw implications for the future development and improvement of the unit.