Report on HM Prison Shotts

HM Inspectorate of Prisons for Scotland 1998

15. POINTS OF NOTE

15.1 Issues to be considered by SPS HQ

15.1.1 There should be a review of the way in which MDT information is presented in order to improve its effectiveness (paragraph 5.16).

15.1.2 National guidelines should be introduced for the allocation of long term prisoners to mainstream Prisons (paragraph 6.14).

15.1.3 Nationally agreed qualitative performance indicators for SPS Programmes should be developed to enable objective evaluations to be carried out (paragraph 6.27).

15.1.4 There should be a review of the procedures whereby sums of money can be moved into and out of prisoners’ Private Cash Accounts with the aim of providing guidance to control this activity (paragraph 11.10).

15.2 Issues to be taken up with the Governor on subsequent visits by the Inspectorate

15.2.1 Staff should take steps to ensure that the local rule about where posters can be displayed is strictly adhered to (paragraph 3.4).

15.2.2 The TV rooms in the accommodation blocks should be refurbished and furnished with a sufficient amount of seating (paragraph 3.4).

15.2.3 The process whereby prisoners are selected for progression from the list of possible candidates should be based on clearly laid out and published criteria (paragraph 3.14).

15.2.4 There should be a review of the procedures for the location of prisoners from the NIC (paragraph 3.15).

15.2.5 Prisoners who test positive for drug misuse should be interviewed by Drug Contact Officers and advised on how to get help to address their problems (paragraph 5.15).

15.2.6 When resources allow, the Prison should have its own anti-ligature cells (paragraph 5.31).

15.2.7 A number of issues, as listed, needs to be addressed regarding the Reception function (paragraph 6.7).

15.2.8 The job description for the Sentence Management/Induction Co-ordinator should be re-written to describe the specific duties of this post (paragraph 6.11).

15.2.9 The proposal to offer ‘D’ Hall prisoners an induction programme on the lines of that available to prisoners in the other Halls should be implemented as soon as possible (paragraph 6.13).

15.2.10 Forward projections of space availability for admissions should be extended well beyond the present one week horizon (paragraph 6.15).

15.2.11 There should be regular contact between the Programmes Supervisor and the NIC equivalent to enable pre-transfer planning and preparation to take place (paragraph 6.17).

15.2.12 All sentence Planning folders should contain monthly updates and appropriate Managers should ensure that those folders are subject to a formal monitoring/auditing process (paragraph 6.21).

15.2.13 Consideration should be given to the setting up of Lifers Groups in every Hall (paragraph 6.30).

15.2.14 There should be a comprehensive review of regime delivery in order to ensure that the priorities revealed by risk/needs assessment are given appropriate weighting alongside the priorities for structured work activities (paragraph 6.31).

15.2.15 Drug free accommodation areas should be provided and linked with the drug free work parties thereby providing a totally drug free environment for those involved (paragraph 6.43).

15.2.16 There should be an audit of all PE equipment with a view to replacing items as required (paragraph 6.49).

15.2.17 There should be a review of the arrangement with the local library service to ensure that the quarterly exchange of books is the most cost-effective way of servicing the prison library (paragraph 6.58).

15.2.18 There should be a review of the proposed Service Level Agreement to reflect the requirement for continued Social Work involvement with Lifers groupwork (paragraph 6.64).

15.2.19 More use should be made of the Chaplains’ specialist counselling skills with consideration being given as to how these skills might be more effectively advertised to staff and prisoners (paragraph 6.78).

15.2.20 Religious services and exercise periods on Sunday mornings should not be scheduled to take place at the same time (paragraph 6.78).

15.2.21 The Hope Group should encourage referrals from all members of the Chaplaincy Team and should consider offering visits to in-patients in the Health Centre (paragraph 6.82).

15.2.22 Urgent consideration should be given to the possibility of either installing a better ventilation system in the visits room or introducing no smoking visit sessions (paragraph 6.87).

15.2.23 A number of measures, as listed, relating to the work of the Lifer Liaison/Early Release Liaison Officer should be introduced (paragraph 6.98).

15.2.24 All meal times should comply with the relevant SPS Operating Standard (paragraph 7.8).

15.2.25 A price list, containing a list of the items available for sundry purchase, should be placed on prominent display at each canteen and on the accommodation landings (paragraph 7.10).

15.2.26 A marketing effort should be made to secure further external customers for the Laundry (paragraph 7.15).

15.2.27 Improvements should be made to the prisoners’ rest room facility in the Laundry (paragraph 7.15).

15.2.28 A local Energy Committee should be formed (paragraph 7.19).

15.2.29 A number of issues, as listed, needs to be addressed as regards fire precautions within the establishment (paragraph 7.28).

15.2.30 An alternative arrangement should be found in order to end the practice whereby a member of the Discipline staff is present during medical consultations (paragraph 8.9).

15.2.31 Consideration should be given to the opening of a day care unit (paragraph 8.18).

15.2.32 Some items of dental equipment are in need of replacement (paragraph 8.24).

15.2.33 A number of steps, as listed, should be taken to raise the race relations profile within the establishment (paragraph 11.18).