Specialist education inside NHS secure hospitals, forensic mental health and learning disability settings, delivered as part of the clinical team.
Long stays in hospital can leave people disconnected from learning. Many of the people we teach had difficult experiences of school, have been out of education for years, and arrive with little confidence in what they can achieve. Without meaningful activity, skills fade and the step back into the community feels further away.
What We Do
Since 2018, PeoplePlus has delivered education inside NHS secure and specialist inpatient settings. We currently work across six sites with two NHS Foundation Trusts in the East of England, including forensic medium and low secure hospitals, a medium secure mental health ward, and learning disability assessment and treatment units. Our education teams work in hospitals rated Good and Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission.
Every learner follows a pathway in four stages:
- Assessment. English and maths screening, a review of past education and any Education, Health and Care Plan, and a conversation about strengths, interests and goals.
- Personalised planning. A learning plan agreed with the learner and the multidisciplinary team, aligned to their care plan and recovery goals.
- Delivery. Flexible, trauma informed teaching that fits around the ward's therapy timetable.
- Progression. Qualifications, links to colleges and community opportunities, and a detailed education report to support discharge planning.
What Learners Can Study
- Functional Skills English and maths, from Pre-Entry to Level 2 (GCSE equivalent)
- Gateway Qualifications and City & Guilds qualifications
- Recovery College courses, planned and delivered with learners and the wider team, on subjects from creative writing and journalism to men's health and real-world survival skills
- Personal and social development, life skills and employability
- Art, music and other creative practical learning
Working as Part of the Clinical Team
Our tutors attend handovers and multidisciplinary team meetings, record progress in clinical notes, and contribute to Care Programme Approach reviews. We work closely with occupational therapists, psychologists, nursing teams and speech and language therapists so that education supports each person's wider treatment.
At our learning disability secure service, learning runs in 12-week blocks. Each block covers maths, English, Recovery College, creative education, practical skills and personal development, and ends with a celebration where learners share their progress. Sessions are then reviewed with learners and the clinical team, and goals are set for the next block. This model now shapes our delivery at every site.
Outcomes
For learners: improved wellbeing, confidence and independence, accredited qualifications, and stronger readiness for discharge.
For trusts: education that supports CQC expectations and recovery models, contributes to Care Programme Approach reviews and care planning, and comes with regular reporting on attendance, progress and outcomes.
