On 28 February 2025, with the support of the Council of Europe project "Towards more humane conditions of detention and reduced reoffending in Ukraine" (DECOPRIS) a meeting of the Working Group on Burnout Prevention for personnel of the Department for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (SDECS) took place. The event gathered representatives from the Department for the Execution of Criminal Sanctions (SDECS), the Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine, the General Directorate of SDECS, the Health Protection Centre of SDECS, and the Probation Service.

Key outcomes of the meeting:

• Presentation of a toolkit for assessing and diagnosing burnout among SDECS personnel.
• Agreement on the structure of the Burnout Management Programme, which includes training on stress management, emotional self-regulation, and psychological well-being.
• Commitment to conducting psychological diagnostics of burnout, serving as the foundation for implementing support programmes.
• DECOPRIS is ready to provide expert support and facilitate training for prison leadership and HR services on burnout prevention.

The DECOPRIS project continues to support penitentiary reform in Ukraine in line with European standards. Establishing a comprehensive burnout prevention system is a crucial step toward ensuring a healthy and effective working environment for penitentiary staff.

Together, we are working to strengthen psychological resilience among employees and improve their working conditions.

The Council of Europe project “Towards More Humane Conditions of Detention and Reduced Reoffending in Ukraine” (DECOPRIS) is implemented within the framework of  the Council of Europe’s Action Plan for Ukraine “Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction” (2023–2026). DECOPRIS aims to enhance the protection of prisoners’ rights by improving prison management practices and advancing rehabilitation efforts.