4. PROGRESS ON RECOMMENDATIONS
11.3 The use of the "back cells" in Ross House should be discontinued immediately and more appropriate accommodation should be used for the most vulnerable women (paragraphs 2.12 and 3.37).
The use of the back cells in Ross House stopped on 20 January 2012. Work has started on a six-cell replacement facility within the Ross House footprint and complementary resource space is being developed in the original back cell area. This work is estimated to take six months to complete.
Alternative, interim accommodation has been identified. This comprises three cells in Ross House and two cells in Younger House. The cells in Ross House [G10, G4 and F12] are suitable for such use, however the two cells identified in Younger House [Silent Cells 1 & 2] are not fit for purpose and their use should be discontinued immediately.
Staff training in the management of prisoners with personality disorders was due to be completed in March 2011 but we could find no evidence of such training being delivered. There is a record of Mental Health First Aid training being delivered in October and December 2011 and evidence of regular 'Mentalisation' training ongoing since mid 2011. Recent staff awareness sessions of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are also taking place every Friday. We were advised that additional, related training will be made available by the Tavistock Foundation with effect from 7th February 2012.
This is reasonable progress.
11.4 The conditions in Peebles House should be improved (paragraph 2.19).
The conditions in Peebles remain poor. The sitting rooms are dreary, poorly furnished and often do not have enough seats to allow communal dining. The ablutions areas, although kept clean, have chipped soap dishes and shower basins, and mouldy grouting. Arrangements for privacy in these areas are half swinging doors and curtains. The furniture in most of the cells inspected was in a poor state of repair: handles on cupboards were broken and clothes were simply bundled into these cupboards as there were no racks. The pillows and quilts were badly stained and smelled fusty and dirty.
This is not satisfactory progress.
11.5 The conditions in Bruce House should be improved (paragraph 2.24).
The standard of cleanliness within Bruce House is acceptable. All communal, toilet and shower areas were clean throughout the period of inspection. However they would benefit from a degree of upgrading. Shower areas continue to be screened by a half door and curtain, with all curtains being in place at the time of inspection. The convicted units were of a better standard in relation to overall cleanliness compared to the Remand Units.
Cleaning stations have been created with the correct provision and separation of cleaning materials and during the time of the inspection these were being routinely used by 'housekeepers'. Guides to the use of appropriate mops etc are also displayed within various areas. New cell furniture is required with some rooms having very little furniture. The Unit Manager of Bruce House confirmed a business case has been prepared for new furniture; however it should be noted that even if successful this will not take place until the next financial year.
This is reasonable progress.
11.6 The conditions in Younger House should be improved (paragraph 2.28).
Some minor improvements had been made in Younger House prior to the last inspection (February 2011) but despite a significant reduction in the prisoner population (73 prisoners down to around 38) there is still a claustrophobic feel to the block.
However, despite the physical conditions major improvements have been made in the living conditions in other areas. For instance access to toilets is no longer an issue (see paragraph 11.7) and there are some positive changes to the regime (see paragraph 12.64).
This is satisfactory progress.
11.7 As a matter of priority alternative systems to access toilets in Bruce and Younger Houses should be installed. In the meantime, all prisoners should be able to access a toilet within a reasonable time (paragraph 2.37).
There has been good progress made on this recommendation and access to toilets has improved. Waiting times are now minimal. The improvements result mainly from the lower prisoner numbers. The night sanitation arrangements are now acceptable.
This is satisfactory progress.
11.8 Outdoor exercise areas should be improved and maintained (paragraph 2.40).
All residential areas have outside exercise areas available to prisoners, although these are of varying standards. Ross, Younger and Wallace Houses have 'hard standing' areas which are in a decent state of repair with seating in place. The area to the front of Peebles House required cleaning during the period of the inspection, while the area to the rear was clean, although the surface, which was a mix of Astroturf and matting, required maintenance. During the inspection the Skye House exercise area had upturned tables and piles of leaves which appeared to have been there for an extended period of time. Bruce House has two exercise areas. The area to the front which is used by untried prisoners was of an acceptable standard, however the small area to the rear used by convicted prisoners required cleaning.
The Astroturf areas are in a poor condition. The areas available to Peebles and Skye Houses have moss growing on them and require maintenance. The area within Younger House requires repair work to be undertaken as the surface is uneven and as such unsuitable for most sports. The small area at the rear of Bruce House is in the best condition, although still requires routine maintenance.
The Estates Maintenance Manager provided a document from Estates and Technical Services Directorate at Calton House confirming these areas were not included in the agreed maintenance schedule.
This is not satisfactory progress
11.10 Arrangements should be put in place which allow women to be held in custody nearer the court at which they are appearing, if significant travel from Cornton Vale is involved or that greater use is made of court video link facilities. In the meantime, it is recommended that women travelling to court are offered the opportunity to shower before travel; are given a proper breakfast prior to travel; receive their methadone dose prior to travel; are allowed reading materials during travel; and have a hot meal on return (paragraph 3.8).
Women travelling to distant courts are still being subjected to unnecessarily long journeys. Inspectors witnessed people arriving in Reception from Wick, Tain and Oban. Conversations took place with these and other prisoners who had undertaken journeys to and from courts in the North East and Stranraer in the South West.
As an example, the journey to Wick started at 06.00hrs, it took over five hours to get there. The court appearance lasted two minutes. The prisoner left the court building at 14.05hrs and arrived at Cornton Vale at 19.10hrs. There were no stops for comfort breaks on the journey. A hot snack was provided at Wick but this is unusual. The other prisoners who had long journeys did not have any hot food at all whilst away from the prison or in Reception on return.
Inverness and Aberdeen prisons are not being used as a matter of course to house female prisoners in these circumstances, despite this being the norm for their male counterparts. The use of these prisons for women travelling from Cornton Vale to courts in the North should be considered on a case‑by‑case basis.
Prisoners who were prescribed methadone did not receive it before they left (see paragraph 11.21). Also, as the medical staff are not on duty at 06.00hrs no other medication was issued.
Breakfast is given the night before prisoners travel to court. A Protocol is in place to accommodate early morning showers in all house blocks apart from Ross House who offer this the night before. No reading materials are available during journeys.
Court video links are not being sufficiently used for court hearings.
This is not satisfactory progress.
11.11 A purpose-built First Night Centre should be created (paragraph 3.23).
A First Night in Custody Centre has now been created in Ross House. Cells F1 to F7 inclusive are now designated as the FNIC Centre. Each of these seven cells is suitable for use by two prisoners, providing a total of 14 spaces. The average number of prisoners in the FNIC Centre in use at any one time is 10.
Disabled prisoners or prisoners deemed to be at risk will be allocated to more appropriate accommodation within Ross House. The accommodation is clean and fit for purpose. Cells are cleaned and fresh bedding is issued daily.
No towels, other than paper towels, are issued and there is no opportunity for prisoners to shower while in the FNIC Centre. Liquid hand soap is available but only on request. Access to showers, towels, soap and shampoo should be made available in the FNIC Centre or offered on admission in Reception.
Access to a telephone is provided after the remainder of the house block is locked up, on the evening of admission. Language line is available to those prisoners for whom English is not their first language.
Separate breakfasting, medical examination, medication dispensing and allocation of personal property are all managed in Ross House on the morning after admission prior to onward transfer to the prisoners' hall[s] of allocation.
This facility has been in operation for several months and the associated processes are proving to be beneficial, particularly in relation to more efficient onward allocation of prisoners, more effective information gathering methods and reduced risk of drug related bullying on the day of admission.
This is reasonable progress.
11.14 A purpose built visits facility including a visitor centre as a national resource for Cornton Vale should be created (paragraph 5.9).
There has been no progress made in this area.
This is not satisfactory progress.
11.15 A purpose built Mother and Baby Unit should be created (paragraph 5.20).
The Mother and Baby Unit is still located in Unit 1 in Peebles House. However, since the last follow up inspection the Unit has been refurbished and now provides a more welcoming, decent and hygienic environment for mothers and babies.
This is reasonable progress.
11.16 A purpose built unit to hold prisoners out of normal circulation should be created and staff working in this unit should be properly trained to do so (paragraph 6.28).
Work has recently started on the creation of an Intensive Management Suite for prisoners who require to be held out of normal circulation. The estimated completion date for this new six-cell facility is July 2012.
Each cell will have integral sanitation and shower facilities. Two exercise areas are included in the design to maximise the best use of staff time. As part of this project, the existing back cells will be re-developed to provide a case conference/meeting room, a staff area and possibly a small fitness room. Although attached to Ross House, the new Intensive Management Suite should be far enough removed from the main cellular area to reduce the impact of noise and will feature an external entrance which will negate the disturbance caused while admitting someone into the new facility from an area out with Ross House.
Funding for an uplift to the staff complement has been approved. Staff selection process, attendance pattern and training plan have all yet to be decided and similarly the overall regime design remains in the planning stages. Additionally, consultation with relevant internal partners and visits to segregation units in other SPS establishments, while planned, has yet to be finalised.
This is reasonable progress.
However, concern remains high over the treatment of prisoners held out of normal circulation and the conditions in which they are kept between now and the opening of the new facility, particularly in light of the continuing number of vulnerable and often disruptive women being admitted to Cornton Vale. It is often this group who display abusive and violent behaviours which increases the risk to themselves, other prisoners and the staff who will have to manage them in not-for-purpose accommodation from now until the summer.
11.18 A purpose built health centre should be created (paragraph 8.2).
There has been no progress in developing additional rooms within the health centre, although the introduction and adoption of a reviewed and improved scheduling system has improved functionality and prisoner/patient flow. Scheduling is well circulated and displayed locally.
The reduction in the prisoner population has led to a reduced demand for health services. This is perceived to have had a beneficial effect on managing efficient service provision.
A business case has been submitted to increase officer escorts to the clinics from the House Blocks which would further help the efficiency of service delivery.
It was reported that there is now a reduced necessity for additional rooms to be developed.
This is reasonable progress
11.20 Very vulnerable women should have proper care plans in place (paragraph 8.20).
Improved awareness and completion of care plans is apparent. There is now a standardised care plan template in use, supported by a process mapped flow chart to ensure consistency of approach.
There is a two weekly health team review where care plans may be discussed.
There is now a care plan audit tool in place to aid monitoring of consistency.
This is reasonable progress.
11.21 Prescribed methadone should be given to prisoners on the day of their liberation (paragraph 8.24).
The rational for not dispensing methadone to women on liberation is based on two points of risk:
- If methadone is dispensed prior to liberation, it has the potential to reduce the motivation of the individual to attend arranged follow up care, potentially contributing to an increased risk of relapse and re offending behaviour.
- There is potential for an individual to seek additional prescribed medication on release compounded by inadequate communications about care transitions that can cause delay in the appropriate medication regime being conveyed to the appropriate community based prescriber. Risk of overdose is also increased.
Methadone is not prescribed prior to a court appearance. It is deemed unnecessary as a default position by health centre staff as there may be no specific clinical requirement to dispense prior to a court visit. Arrangements are in place for methadone to be dispensed on a prisoners return from court. This may reduce potential effect on a person's actual or perceived capacity.
This is satisfactory progress.
11.22 Prisoners should be assessed for programmes to address offending behaviour, and when they have been assessed they should be provided with the relevant programme (paragraph 9.10).
In terms of resourcing programme delivery and supervision there has been an overall increase:
| Function | (Pre) February
2011 | February 2011 | Current/
Planned |
| Officer | 6 | 6 | 6 + 1 Temporary |
| Psychologist 'D' | 0.4 | 0 | 2 |
| Psychologist 'F' | 0.4 | 1 | 1.5 |
| Psychologist 'G' | 0 | 0.2 | 0.6 |
| Social Work | 0 | 0 | 0 |
This represents a major increase in the overall compliment in relation to Psychology and should improve previous issues related to monitoring and supervision. The Programmes Manager noted the temporary D band officer has supported the completion of assessments and delivery of programmes. However this 6-month period is scheduled to end in February 2012.
Generic assessments are now being undertaken and at the date of inspection 80 had been completed, with four waiting to be completed. The four awaiting completion had been referred for assessment in the previous four to six weeks. The target group for Generic Assessments is prisoners serving four years and over, however those serving two to four years are offered the opportunity to undertake a Generic Assessment at induction.
The range of programmes being delivered remains the same as during the last inspection. However there has been a large increase in waiting lists from the previous inspection:
Waiting Lists
| Programme | February 2011 | February 2012 | Difference |
| FOBP | 4 | 17 | +13 |
| SROBP | 6 | 4 | -2 |
| Constructs | 5 | 9 | +4 |
| Drugs action | 0 | 20 | +20 |
| Alcohol | 0 | 22 | +22 |
| Anxiety | 0 | 33 | +33 |
| Connections | 0 | 26 | +26 |
| Parenting | 0 | 14 | +14 |
The Programmes Manager attributed the increase in waiting lists to the Generic Assessment process.
Access to programmes continues to be based on assessed need and critical dates; however there are 28 prisoners who are in the Parole process with an identified need for either FOBP, SROBP or Constructs.
This is reasonable progress.