Stoke Heath

PRISONERS

The prisoners called the jail ‘calm’, and ‘very safe’ compared to others, with security ‘on it’, staff ‘who don’t mess about’, and a structured regime ‘helping time fly’. Staff-prisoner relations were ‘good’, as were vocational courses with ‘excellent’ local employer links. They liked the Prisoner CouncilCommittee of prisoner representatives meeting with senior management to discuss issues relevant to the management and care of prisoners in the jail, and said family visits were ‘fantastic’ (‘great atmosphere’, ‘lots of activities for kids’) helped by an ‘excellent’ Chaplaincy and Barnardo’s. The farms and gardens were ‘excellent’.

OFFICERS

The Officers called this ‘great jail’, safer than others, with ‘excellent’ security, and staff

‘definitely in charge’. They praised ‘excellent’ staff relations, with new staff made ‘very welcome’, and good retention, but with colleagues prepared to challenge underperformance where required. Prisoner relations were ‘excellent’, and staff ‘cared passionately’ about helping them change. SpiceSynthetic psychoactive substance, originally marketed as a synthetic cannabis – often used as a generic term for all synthetic psychoactive substances and phones were thought ‘low’ due to RapiscanScanning equipment used to check parcels and mail for contraband, including drugs mail-checks and new phone scanners. They said VRViolence Reduction reps played ‘a big role’ in safety. They also praised veteran, lifer and traveller support, high quality prisoner activities, the EnhancedThe highest of three levels within the Prison Service’s Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme (see also “IEP”) IEP - Incentives and Earned Privileges – national scheme under which prisoners can earn additional privileges through good behaviour, drug, and Cat DOne of four levels of security for male prisoners – from Cat A (high security) to Cat D (the lowest level) resettlement units, and the ‘excellent’ family visits.

MANAGERS

The managers called staff ‘a big family’, who socialise in the gym, staff mess, and outside. They felt being ‘all FMIFive Minute Intervention training – training preparing prison staff to turn everyday conversations into opportunities for rehabilitation trained’ helped create ‘excellent jailcraft’ in a ‘safe’, ‘staff run’ prison (‘prisoners respect that’), with ‘very good’ prisoner relations. They said local police and NCANational Crime Agency links made phones and drugs ‘hard to get’ (prisoners and staff agreed). Positives for staff included being able to alter their detailRefers to the allocation of Officers to particular roles on a given shift (with permission), regular well-being days, a ‘widely valued’ staff recognition scheme, and good development and training opportunities – as well as a visible and supportive Governor. They too also highlighted the range of specialist units, as well as workshops and education, as positives with regard to prisoners.