HMIP Annual Report 1996-97 - Summary of Recommendations

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland - Annual Report 1996-97

11 Summary of recommendations made in 1996-97

Recommendations	*Remarks*

A. HMP & YOI Glenochil (published 13 June 1996) For Area Director and Governor I/C
1. The scale of addiction counselling and the provision of well trained addiction workers should be reviewed and significantly increased.	Implemented: Glenochil Drugs Strategy now much improved.

For SPS HQ/Area Director
1. A second fence should be provided around the prison sports field and the gates leading to the sports field should be fitted with tamper alarms connected to the prison’s Central Operations Room.	Funding has not been made available; however, major improvements to the existing fence are underway, including the fitting of an appropriate alarm system.
2. All SPS Education Units should be subject to comprehensive and regular inspection by HM Chief Inspector of Schools.	SPS is conducting separate in-house reviews: however, all major establishments are now subject to inspection by the Inspectorate’s new independent Education Adviser (see Annex 3).
67 Points of Note were also recorded

B. 1995-96 ANNUAL REPORT (published 28 August 1996) 57 Points of Note were recorded and responded to by SPS HQ.

C. HM Institution Cornton Vale (published 13 November 1996) For levels above SPS HQ
1. There should be an investigation into the provision of appropriate Bail Hostel accommodation, with priority given to female remands from the Greater Glasgow area, in order to reduce the numbers placed at risk in closed conditions.	Reviewed at highest Scottish Office level. £50,000 offered to Sacro and Church of Scotland for use as bail accommodation. Discussion also underway with City of Glasgow Council for an additional 15 bail bed spaces.
2. Psychiatric screening should be provided in some Courts - for example in Greater Glasgow. A Community Psychiatric Nurse, who could undertake the early screening of vulnerable and disturbed individuals and be in touch with the Douglas Inch Clinic and other relevant specialists, could make a considerable difference in anticipating and diverting serious problems which might not be otherwise identified until after admission.	Being examined at Scottish Office level in the context of services for mentally disturbed offenders.

For SPS HQ/Area Director
1. There should be commissioned research into the scale and nature of drug abuse at Cornton Vale.	A six month study began in December 1997.
2. The provision of in cell television for female Remand prisoners should be instituted.	Not agreed (at present, but may be subject to later review).
3. There should be an urgent review of the timing of the transfer of male YOs to Cornton Vale.	Transfer delayed.
4. A revitalisation of the work opportunities at Cornton Vale should be given as high a priority as possible in the Review of Industries which is being conducted by the SPS.	Two new VT courses have been introduced and a new Regime timetable is being prepared.
5. A community psychiatric nurse post should be established with the individual concerned working with vulnerable prisoners in Cornton Vale and in the community.	Three additional registered mental nurses are to be recruited; a new day care unit for vulnerable women is also to be opened.

For Area Director and Governor
1. The Institution's contacts with appropriate supporting agencies in the community should be re-examined with a view greatly to strengthening throughcare drugs links, particularly in the Greater Glasgow area.	Contact has been made, funding is available and implementation is now underway.
2. The Institution's anti-drugs strategy should be reviewed with a view to establishing a clear policy with the aim of having greater co-ordination and a truly multi-disciplinary approach throughout the establishment with better cross functional communication.	Completed.
3. A further trained addictions worker should be recruited and given the priority task of focusing primarily on Remand prisoners.	Focus has shifted to Remands, whilst a further addictions worker post has also been approved.
4. A pilot scheme involving a number of the recommendations contained in the recent reports on suicide prevention by Professor John Gunn and Dr Kevin Power should be introduced soon - particularly those relating to the integration of those known to be potentially suicidal.	Prisoners now spend much longer in integrated conditions: Remands are also sharing cells where appropriate.
5. Remand prisoners should be provided with a much more therapeutic regime, especially around the weekend.	Implemented.
6. Special arrangements for the induction of Remand prisoners should be made.	Implemented.
7. The timing of the delivery of prisoners to Cornton Vale should be reviewed in conjunction with the Police.	Reviewed.
8. Wherever possible, a nurse who has psychiatric qualifications or suicide awareness training should be on duty in Reception for screening.	Agreed.
9. The Institution's anti-bullying strategies should be properly implemented, monitored and evaluated, particularly in relation to the Remand Block.	Reviewed and implemented.
10. All Remand prisoners should be allocated a properly trained Personal Officer.	Implemented.
11. Remand prisoners should have greater access to telephones and in a place which affords greater privacy.	Implemented.
12. Local arrangements for post-suicide counselling for staff and prisoners should be reviewed and standardised.	Implemented.
13. An additional Officer should be permanently added to each shift in the Remand Block.	Implemented with effect from October1996.
14. The Homemaker scheme should be re-introduced on the lines suggested.	This will be re-introduced once health and safety requirements have been met.
15. Consideration should be given to the introduction of some form of separate provision of pharmacy services.	Under review at SPS HQ level.
16. The number of psychiatrists' sessions should be increased from 4 to 6.	Agreed: an additional psychiatrist is also to be recruited.
17. A medical team leader with wide experience of dealing with drug abusers should be appointed.	Appointed September 1996.
18. The ground floor of the Health Centre should be made entirely available for health care provision.	Resources have been agreed and planning is now well advanced.
68 Points of Note were also recorded.

D. THEMATIC STUDY (The Importance of Visits in Scottish Prisons (published 21 November 1996)
1. Consideration should be given to a doubling of the current level of visit entitlement for convicted, untried and civil prisoners, such increases to be introduced within the next two to five years.	Under consideration but subject to local conditions at each prison.
2. As a matter of priority, full-time FCDOs should be appointed at Barlinnie, Cornton Vale, Edinburgh, Glenochil, Perth, Peterhead, Polmont and Shotts.	Substantial progress noted at Barlinnie and Perth. (Shotts was already well advanced and is probably now the leading exponent in the UK on this aspect.)
3. Every closed establishment in Scotland should undertake a detailed feasibility study with a view to determining whether they need either a properly resourced Visitors Centre or an enhanced use of existing visit areas with an increased role for the FCDO.	Feasibility is being examined in the context of the SPS’s Estates Strategy.
26 Points of Note were also recorded and responded to by SPS HQ.

E. HM Prison Edinburgh (published 16 January 1997) For SPS HQ/Area Director
1. Some means must be found to reduce the levels of overcrowding, especially amongst remand prisoners, both in the short and medium terms - a problem which needs to be tackled on a much broader front rather than by the SPS alone.	Comments acknowledged at Scottish Office level. The prison’s 'C' Hall re-opened in late 1996.
2. The prison now urgently requires a period of stability and consolidation at senior level and there should be no more enforced changes to the senior management team for at least 6-9 months, more especially if overcrowding levels do not reduce.	Noted.
3. The establishment should have a purpose built separate cell unit, with self-contained facilities and its own staff.	Plans now well advanced and work likely to commence in mid-1997.
61 Points of Note were also recorded

F. HM Prison Castle Huntly (published 10 March 1997)
1. The Governor should implement a more rigorous drug searching programme forthwith.	Implemented.
20 Points of Note were also recorded

G. HM Prison Penninghame (published 17 March 1997)
1. A full risk assessment of the night patrol staffing arrangements should be undertaken.	Staffing has been doubled.

15 Points of Note were also recorded

H. HM Prison Perth (signed 27 March 1997 - publication outwith reporting year) For SPS HQ/Area Director
1. Improvements to the laundry should be implemented as a matter of urgency.	Ongoing.

For Area Director and Governor I/C
1. The revised plan for the refurbishment of the accommodation Halls should proceed as a matter of priority with appropriate funds being made available to ensure that the work can be undertaken.	Ongoing.
2. The Governor should include in his Strategic Plan, a proposal to replace the section of inner fence with a wall.	Ongoing.
3. The Emergency Control Room should be expanded and refurbished as a matter of priority.	Resources Allocated
4. A purpose built separate cells unit with self-contained facilities and dedicated staffing is an immediate priority.	Ministerial approval given for construction
5. There should be an urgent appraisal of how prisoners should spend their time with consideration being given to the possibility of introducing a timetabling system for regime activities.	Ongoing.
6. The Contracts team should be provided with a purpose-built unit with appropriate facilities.	Ongoing.

59 Points of Note were also recorded