Liverpool

PRISONERS

Prisoners rated the staff at Liverpool positively and praised the quality of relationships between prisoners and staff. They also highlighted the ‘Steps to the gate’ pre-release programme, which they rated as more in-depth and wide-ranging, and with more extensive links with agencies and employers in the community, than equivalents they had experienced elsewhere.

OFFICERS

The staff group felt the prison to be safe and, as with the prisoners, viewed relationships between staff and prisoners positively. They also noted strong camaraderie and mutual support among staff, and the support offered to new Officers. They rated management, noting good relationships at all levels, and praised the visibility of the Governor and her team. Staff also highlighted the new 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 scheme, which the prison has been piloting, as a positive.

MANAGERS

Like prisoners and frontline staff, the focus group of Custodial Managers, Functional Heads and the Deputy Governor rated staff-prisoner relationships positively, and they described the prison as a safe place to work. They praised frontline staff, noting their resilience, passion and pride, jailcraftThe skills required by a Prison Officer to perform their role, in particular regarding the management and care of prisoners, approach to prisoners, and ‘can do’ attitude. They also noted staff camaraderie and the support they offer one another. Gym staff were singled out for particular praise both for their work with prisoners and members of the local community (including their annual Christmas event for the elderly). Implementation of the new KeyworkerA 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 scheme was good, and the staff care and welfare facility on site was also highlighted as a positive.

GOVERNOR

Though new in post, the Governor was fulsome in her praise both for frontline staff and managers, who she rated as the best she had worked with.