Poppy shares some brilliant reflections on the last year spent the last year working in our resettlement team as a student intern. Find more information on internships and student placements at Prisoners Abroad here.

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My placement year as an intern in the Resettlement Team at Prisoners Abroad has been a really meaningful and formative experience during my MSc Forensic Psychology degree. Over the past twelve months, I’ve gained insight, confidence, and skills that I know will stay with me throughout my future career.

When I first joined the team, I spent time reviewing Prisoners Abroad’s literature, reading case notes, observing team meetings, and shadowing colleagues during client appointments. I also supported practical tasks such as sending resettlement packs to clients detained overseas and processing forms received directly or via the British Consulate. At the beginning, the resettlement pathway felt complex, especially when navigating different timelines and procedures for clients with additional considerations, such as those managed under MAPPA. But with guidance from my supervisor, Umme, and the wider resettlement team, I gradually began to get the hang of it.

As my confidence grew, I began managing a small caseload of both full resettlement and long‑arm clients. This has involved supporting people from the moment they arrive in the UK, through the crisis intervention stage, and later as they move into more stable accommodation and begin rebuilding their lives. I’ve also taken on more pre‑release work, gathering essential information before someone is deported so that we can prepare effectively for their arrival.

Being trusted with this level of responsibility has been incredibly rewarding and has helped me develop both professionally and personally.

Throughout the year, I’ve kept a reflective logbook as part of my course requirements. This has encouraged me to think critically about my experiences - the challenges, the achievements, and the moments that have shaped my understanding of forensic psychology in practice. I also had the opportunity to co‑deliver a training session on trauma‑informed care to service delivery staff, and to present to the resettlement team on assessment and formulation using the 5Ps model. I’ve really enjoyed sharing psychological frameworks and seeing how they can be applied to real‑world resettlement work.

One of the most valuable aspects of this placement has been seeing the theory‑practice link, where concepts I’ve studied including trauma, identity, and the psychological impact of imprisonment - are reflected daily in the experiences of the clients we support. Before starting this placement, I wasn’t aware of Prisoners Abroad or the breadth of their work.

Now, I can’t imagine completing my degree without this experience. The organisation’s commitment to welfare and person‑centred support has definitely shaped the way I think about ethical practice in forensic psychology.

Alongside my placement, I am conducting my MSc dissertation in partnership with Prisoners Abroad, exploring the psychological impact of deportation to the UK following imprisonment abroad. I am currently interviewing resettlement clients and will be using reflexive thematic analysis to identify patterns and meanings within their experiences. Being able to carry out research that directly connects to my placement has been really motivating.

Overall, my time at Prisoners Abroad has been full of learning, challenge, and growth.

I feel privileged to have worked alongside such skilled and compassionate colleagues, and to have contributed to the support offered to people returning to the UK after imprisonment overseas, a client group that had not been at the forefront of my mind previously. This experience has shaped my professional identity, strengthened my confidence, and confirmed my passion for working within forensic and trauma‑informed settings.

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Make a real difference with an internship or student placement

At Prisoners Abroad, we believe that internships and student placements are more than just work experience - they’re a chance to change lives. Every year, we welcome a small number of students who bring fresh ideas, energy, and commitment to our mission: protecting the health, wellbeing, and human rights of British citizens detained overseas and supporting their families at home. 

Learn more