Lancaster Farms

PRISONERS

The prisoners described a ‘really safe’ and ‘relaxed’ prison with ‘very good’ staff. They gave the gym (‘lots of time’, ‘great staff’) and running club, as well as vocational training, an ‘excellent’ rating. They were positive about healthcare staff & services, and drug services and the recovery wing. The food was ‘good’ with plenty of choice, and they valued the clean, open and green grounds.

MANAGERS

The managers highlighted ‘outstanding’ staff-prisoner relations, and said the staff’s approach and skills, plus individualised plans for challenging prisoners, kept the prison ‘safe’ – while KeyworkA national scheme under which Prison Officers are given training and time to work one-to-one with around six prisoners, aimed at supporting their management and rehabilitation (fully operational here) was ‘a proper game changer’. They described strong relationships between staff across disciplines (including those employed by outside agencies), and new staff were made ‘very welcome’; and they valued ‘On the Spot’ vouchers use by SOsSupervisory Officers – see also “Band 3 / Band 4” Band 3 / Band 4 – Prison Officer grades – Band 3 is the main grade for Officers, Band 4 officers are also known as “supervisory Officers to recognise outstanding staff performance. Prisoner education, including Learning TogetherScheme bringing together students and prisoners to study together – see also “Inside Out”, and sports and fitness activities, including good gym access and a prisoner running club, were highlighted too, as were charitable sponsored runs etc. Engagement with prisoners’ families, including bi-monthly forums for family members, and family involvement in ACCTAssessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork – multi-disciplinary care planning process for prisoners identified as being at risk of suicide or self-harm reviews, was another positive. They noted ‘a big focus’ on health & well-being for all and felt the clean, green, and open physical environment made ‘a huge difference’ to prisoners and staff alike.

OFFICERS

The Officers agreed about the staff’s strengths (‘very caring towards prisoners’ and ‘passionate’ about the job) and described good relations both among staff and with prisoners. They really valued the health & well-being focus for prisoners and staff alike, the grounds, gym (for staff use, too), wide range of prisoners’ courses, ‘very good’ food, and ‘excellent’ individualised complex case support.