Out of Gate – Prisoner Re-integration Service

Programme Areas

Addictions - drug & alcohol

Programme Type

Community / social support (AOD)

Regions

MidCentral, Southland, Wellington, Nelson Marlborough, West Coast, Dunedin - South Otago, Hutt, Wairarapa

Age Groups

Adult / Pakeke, Older adult / Kaumātua

Referral Types

Corrections

Description

Out of Gate is a prisoner re-integration service provided by CareNZ in the South Island (except Christchurch) and the Lower North Island i.e. Wellington, Manawatu and Wairarapa, assisting short-serving men and women released from prison to make a successful transition from prison into the community.

We work with the men and women at Otago Correctional Facility, Invercargill Prison, Rimutaka Prison, Arohata Prison and Manawatu Prison. Our teams of Out of Gate Navigators and Social Workers are based in Dunedin, Invercargill, Nelson, Wellington, Wairarapa and Palmerston North and work with the men and women who had been sentenced to less than two years in prison following their release. Satellite and outreach services are provided to our clients released to the West Coast, Nelson and Marlborough regions. We also work in partnership in Wellington, Wairarapa and the Manawatu with Kaupapa Māori Providers, namely Te Waka Whaiora, Mana o te Tangata and Te Hauora Rūnanga O Wairarapa.

Our clients are supported by Navigators/Social Workers before and after their release. They assess the needs of our clients before their release and establish a release plan, focusing on housing, employment/training, health and wellbeing as well as family, social and cultural connections. Our Navigators/Social Workers walk alongside and support our clients following their release. With over two thirds of our clients experiencing drug and alcohol dependency, Out of Gate provides an opportunity to engage with our clients at an early stage, build rapport and encourage them to access services if needed.

CareNZ also provide a remand programme in Invercargill Prison, Otago Correctional Facility, Rimutaka Prison, Arohata Prison and Manawatu Prison.