Rye Hill

PRISONERS

The prisoners felt ‘very safe’ in a jail with ‘a sense of community’, ‘great’ staff who ‘really care’ and ‘outstanding’ relationships between prisoners and staff. They said the SMTSenior Management Team was ‘excellent’ and staff and management place ‘real trust’ in prisoners. They liked management’s wide consultation and ‘nothing about me without me’ approach, an effective Prisoner CouncilCommittee of prisoner representatives meeting with senior management to discuss issues relevant to the management and care of prisoners in the jail and management’s responsiveness to their ideas. They also valued a wide range of peer mentors and mutual support among prisoners. The charity-run counselling service for prisoners was ‘brilliant’, and reception ‘fantastic’: a very relaxed ‘open’ feel set the tone, alongside a 3-month peer-led induction. They liked the ‘varied’ regime’s many chances for personal development, a ‘second to none’ education, and regular celebration of achievement events. They praised visits, including regular family days, homework clubs etc. The gardens and green space made ‘a real difference’ to all, as did in-cell phones and KiosksTouch-screen terminals, normally on the wings, which allow prisoners to deal with many ‘domestic’ issues, such as submitting “apps” and ordering “canteen”.

MANAGERS

The SMsSenior Managers agreed there was ‘a genuine community’ with ‘amazing’ staff who treat everyone as ‘human beings’, and noted a ‘very’ visible, approachable No. 1An informal term referring to a prison’s Governor (or Director in private jails) and DepShort for Deputy Governor who led a management that consult and communicate with staff and prisoners ‘on everything’. 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 was praised, as was managing challenging prisoners (based on individualised case work and involving families), and an IEPIncentives and Earned Privileges – national scheme under which prisoners can earn additional privileges through good behaviour scheme which ‘really encourages the positive’. They agreed, too, about reception and induction, gardens and green space, prisoners’ success events, and in-cell phones and Kiosks.

OFFICERS

Officers said staff-prisoner relations were ‘second to none’ and Keywork was making a huge difference. They highlighted impressive support for older prisoners, disabilities, complex social needs, and those at risk of self-harm, and praised work to turn around more challenging prisoners. They agreed, too, about reception and induction, as well as in-cell phones and Kiosks.