INTRODUCTION
Manchester House is a half-way house run by the John Howard Society of Victoria. It is located near downtown Victoria and is within walking distance to a considerable number of city resources. Staff are from varied backgrounds and have a good understanding of some of the problems that are faced in starting a new life on the street. We try to provide an atmosphere that is relaxed and supportive. A person is accepted as a resident at Manchester because we have decided to sponsor him in his efforts at this point in his sentence. We try to give him every opportunity to complete a successful parole. However, each person is accountable for his own choices, and success is ultimately up to him. As a half-way house we are equipped to help with the transition that takes place between the institution and the street. Residents can get the most benefit from this resource by using the time spent in the house to build a solid final release plan. During this period a resident can build financial resources and community contacts, get established at work or at school, begin to socialize and generally become re-acquainted with life in the community.
A conditional release to the community offers more freedom of movement and choice. The staff at Manchester will always try to respect your privacy and your right to make your own decisions within the bounds of our contract with CSC. This contract basically requires us to be aware of your where-abouts in the community at all times. Because of this, you are required to sign in and sign out every time you enter or leave the house and we have strict curfews that must be maintained. Some residents are required to report to the police once a month and there is an expectation that you will not abuse substances while living at the house. This is because the transition period is a stressful one, even under the best conditions, and it is a good idea to avoid anything that might cloud your judgment or get in the way of your progress. Residents having Parole Board Special Conditions to abstain from intoxicants will be involved in a program of random urinalysis in co-operation with the Parole Office.
There is space available for twelve Federal and three Provincial residents to live in the house. Rooms are assigned according to seniority. New residents share one of the three double rooms until they eventually move up the seniority list to one of the nine single rooms. Chores are assigned to each room and they must be done as well as the normal cleaning up after yourself that is part of sharing quarters with other people. Meals are not provided at Manchester, but there are two large kitchens and residents are encouraged to cook because it is cheaper and more nutritious. An allowance is provided for unemployed residents to buy food. Cooking utensils are supplied. There is also a laundry room for the convenience of the residents. Weekend passes are available and can be arranged through the parole officer. Much of what happens in Manchester House is a result of co-operation between staff and residents. It does not take long for the personality of the group to be reflected because of the small number of people involved. Although policy does not change, general attitudes of residents and staff quickly become a part of day to day operations. The ideal is that we work together to create an atmosphere that is relaxed and communicative. It can be a successful partnership if given a chance.
HOUSE PHILOSOPHY
There are certain premises on which our counselling is broadly based. These include the following:
1.We believe that positive reinforcement, support and encouragement are the most effective factors in affecting constructive change.
2.We believe in maturation and what some people might call “burn out”. Some people require more life experience before what is obvious to others becomes obvious to them. People can make significant lifestyle changes at any age.
3.We believe that an individual is responsible for their own behaviour, and therefore accountable for the consequences of that behaviour.
4.We believe it is important to interpret self-destructive or anti-social behaviours as decisions which an individual has made for themselves.
STAFF
A House Director
B Administrative Assistant
C Three full time Counsellors
D One full time Night Supervisor
E One weekend Night Supervisor
F Relief Staff
Manchester House has at least one staff member on duty twenty-four hours a day. Each resident is assigned a full time counsellor who will meet with him on a regular basis to discuss his progress, his problems or to help clarify any situation that might come up. The staff member on duty will also provide any assistance that it is needed. The counselling staff work on a shift schedule which is 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 3:00 PM to 11:00 PM, and 11:00 PM to 7:00 AM. The Director has an office on the third floor of the House and maintains an open door policy to residents. She is generally available Tuesday through Friday between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
LOCATION
The house is located near the downtown area of Victoria on Manchester Road. When approaching the House from downtown on Douglas Street, one turns left on Burnside Avenue, and Manchester Road is the first left hand turn off of Burnside. The House is close to public transportation, and residents can easily walk downtown.
The mailing address is:
Manchester House
540 Manchester Road
Victoria, B.C.
V8T 2N8
Office Telephone: (250) 384-1340
Resident Telephone: (250) 384-1724
Fax: (250) 920-3824
E-Mail:
APPLICATIONS
Manchester House accepts applications from all federal and provincial institutions. When applying for residency at Manchester House the interested individual must establish a relationship (correspondence and/or interview). All the initiative for contact must come from the applicant. This is because each person is responsible for developing and pursuing his own release plan. Applying from William Head Institution is a bit easier because the House is local. The Director and/or a staff member of Manchester interview interested persons at William Head Institution every Wednesday. Inmates need to book an appointment on the interview list posted beside the boardroom in E Unit. The Director also visits all of the Mainland Institutions every second month and twice a year during the John Howard Society Information Fairs. If an inmate has an upcoming hearing and are interested in residing at Manchester House they can inform their Institiutional Parole Officer who will then send a request to the Victoria Parole Office. The Victoria office will do a community assessment/strategy by presenting the application to the Screening Committee which meets every second Thursday. If they agree that a release to the Victoria area is desirable and practical the Community Assessment will be supported. If an application is turned down a reason will be given. This process can be done very quickly once the applicant's Institutioinal Parole Officer has contacted the Victoria office.
SELECTION PROCESS
Federal and Provincial inmates are selected for residency on a priority basis on the following criteria:
First -Inmates who show insight, demonstrated commitment and concrete plans to make changes in their lifestyles which in the past have lead to patterns of criminal behaviour.
Second -Inmates who demonstrated constructive lifestyles prior to their federal convictions, and can take advantage of the resources the House has to offer to re-establish themselves in the community.
Third - As a bed space is available, inmates who need assistance in re-integration, however, show lesser degrees of insight, commitment, concrete plans, etc.
Criteria for Admission:
1.Inmates who are assessed by Manchester staff as not posing a significant behaviour/management problem.
2.Inmates who are assessed to be compatible with current residents of the House.
3.Persons with substance abuse problems who recognize it as a factor in their criminal behaviour:
a)having taken advantage of institutional substance abuse programming.
b)having developed specific plans and support for addressing substance abuse while in the community.
c)willingness to co-operate with urinalysis monitoring, including both random and upon request.
d)the current number of residents in the house with similar substance abuse problems would also be factor.
4.Consideration of the location of the House near an elementary school and a neighborhood project may affect the application of an inmate. However, each inmate will be considered individually on the following basis:
a)psychological and/or psychiatric assessment which gives reason to believe that an inmate no longer poses a threat to those in the House and to the community at large.
b)successful participation in institutional programming geared to their offence.
c)a willingness to participate in community based counselling/therapy.
5.All applicants must be reviewed by the Manchester House Steering Committee. This policy is designed to involve the community in the decision to accept or reject potentially dangerous offenders. The Committee is a sub-committee of the John Howard Board of Directors and includes community members at large.
HOUSEKEEPING
Chores
Chores are assigned to the room number so that residents are responsible for cleaning in the general area they are using most. When a resident moves to a new room his chores will change according to the room number he is in. A list of room chores are posted on the bulletin board and in each resident's room. He is responsible for completing these chores as well as cleaning his room and cleaning up after himself in the areas of the house that he uses. When chores have been completed they are inspected by a staff member who will then sign the chore completion sheet. Chores should be looked after on an on-going basis, however, all chores are checked by staff weekly. If a resident has not completed his chore he may be ineligible for a weekend pass or his allowance will be witheld until completed.
Cooking
Meals are not provided at Manchester House. A portion of the unemployed allowance is for purchasing food supplies. There are two well equipped kitchens in the house. It is suggested that residents do their own cooking because of the cost of eating out, and because it is important to get nutritional food especially during times of stress. Staff (excluding the Director) are more than happy to help the non-cooks as are other residents who have cooking skills.
Laundry
There is a large, well equipped laundry room on the ground floor of the house. It can be used from 7 AM to 10 PM. There is also an iron and an ironing board set up for the convenience of residents.
Linen
Two sheets, one comforter, one pillow case, and one pillow are provided to each resident. Sheets, comforter, pillow and the pillow case are returned to the House when an individual leaves. It is the responsibility of the resident to make sure they are clean before they leave. A welcome package is also given to each resident upon their arrival. Thispackage includes two towels, one face cloth, and various other items that becomes the property of the resident.
SECURITY
Manchester House has a contract with the Corrections Service of Canada to supply accommodation for federal and provincial offenders who are on parole. We maintain minimum security in comparison to the Federal Institutions but there are requirements that we must comply with. They are based on the fact that residents are still serving their sentence and are still on the count of the Institution they have transferred from.
Sign-In/Sign-Out
Residents must sign-in and out every time they enter or leave the residence. Staff must initial all entries made by the resident. They are also required to note how long they will be gone and where they will be going while they are out (see curfews for mid-day sign-in).
Police Reporting
Someresidents must report to the local police station once a month, usually on the first work day after the first of the month. This will be decided by the parole officer.
Room Searches/Bed Check Policy
Staff members make routine rounds of the House and if a resident has not signed the log and has not been seen in the House his room will be checked. Night staff also make three random room checks on each resident during their rounds after evening curfew count. A search of all communal areas and the yard is made by staff at least once a month. Rooms are searched when a resident leaves for the protection of the incoming resident.
The staff at Manchester House are always concerned that the privacy of the residents is maintained. However, there are occasions when a room is searched for other reasons. If the staff feel that the safety of the community or the House is a factor, a room will be searched for contraband such as drugs and weapons.
Curfews
Sunday to Thursday the curfew is 12:00 midnight, and on Friday and Saturday (and Sundays for long weekends) the curfew is extended to 1:00 AM. For new residents and UTA's, there is a 30-day mid-day sign-in required sometime between 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. For new residents the 10:00 PM curfew ends after the first week. For residents on a UTA the 10:00PM curfew is for the entire pass. Missing sign-in’s is dealt with in the same way that missing the evening curfews is handled. All curfews must be adhered to very strictly. If a resident is more than ten minutes late, it will be reported to the National Duty Parole Officier.
VISITORS
Visitors are welcome in the common areas of Manchester House, but are not allowed to visit in resident rooms. They must remain in the common areas of the main floor of the House. They must also be introduced to staff when they arrive, and staff should be informed when they are leaving. Any visitor who displays inappropriate behaviour will be asked to leave. Residents are responsible for the behaviour of their guests. The curfew for visitors is one half hour before the resident curfew.
MEDICAL COVERAGE
Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) does not provide B.C. Medical coverage for individuals released from an Institution. Prospective residents must apply to the B.C. Medical Services Plan for coverage before leaving the Institution. With regards to dental, optometric, and prescription coverage, residents should inquire as to what the situation is from the staff at the time of their intake.
PRESCRIPTIONS
All prescribed medications must be given to staff for safe keeping in the locked filing cabinet. This medication is monitored by the staff and medication is taken according to the instructions listed on the container. Over-the-counter medications must also be reported to the staff with the name of the medication and pertinent details of its use.
INTAKE
Intake procedures take about one hour. A new file is created for a resident the day he arrives at Manchester House. Several forms are filled out pertaining to current sentence and residency at Manchester House. The resident will receive a copy of the resident handbook at this time (if they haven’t received one previously) and this will supply some of the information needed especially in the first few weeks.
House and room keys will be handed out along with a welcome package containing three towels, face cloth, key ring, wallet, map of Victoria, day planner, pen, shampoo, soap, comb, toothbrush, toothpaste and a list of helpful phone numbers. The staff person on duty will take the new resident on a tour of the house, pointing out safety and fire procedure and location of exits and fire extinguishers.
The new resident will sign in at Manchester upon his arrival at the house for the first time and the sign-in log is explained. The House Director will assign a Counsellor before the arrival of the resident. Meetings will be arranged for the resident with the House Director, the Parole Officer and the Counsellor. These meetings will establish the immediate release plans of the new resident.
Intake procedures will provide the new person with as much information as possible on the day he arrives but staff and his counsellor will be available and in fact very willing to clarify anything that he might have missed or wants to know more about in the days that follow. Intake is an informal affair at Manchester and is usually done over coffee.
DISCHARGE
When a resident is being discharged from Manchester House there is an established routine which helps to make sure that everything is looked after. This routine is as follows:
1.Residents must clean their room and then have it inspected by staff who will later search the room before it is reassigned.
2.Bedding must be washed and returned to staff along with room and house keys.
3.The resident will be asked to sign a form acknowledging receipt of all his personal belongings from Manchester House.
4.The resident must sign out, in the Arrival/Departure book.
5.Parole forms should be signed by the resident if this has not already been done at the Parole office.