Maidstone

MANAGERS

The senior managers thought staff-staff relations were ‘good’, and highlighted an ‘excellent’ staff Care Team, well-being days, CAB access, and the mess and staff room. They also rated a daily full staff briefing, lunchtime ‘staff walks’, BBQs and other (Governor-funded) events. They rated the awards & recognition scheme with nominations by prisoners and staff, said POELT retention was high and thought their pre-training visits helped. Staff-prisoner relations were ‘very informal’ and ‘positive’, and they rated the Prisoner Council, elected by prisoners and staff, and wide range of peer support workers, including PIDS and induction reps. Mental health and well-being support by and for prisoners were highlighted too. Spurgeons children’s charity and the monthly ‘family day’ were praised for strengthening family support. They said the prison was ‘safe’, with low violence and self-harm, and praised the dedicated officer working on VR and self-harm.

STAFF

The staff agreed staff-staff relations were good and called the Governor ‘visible’ and ‘supportive’. They rated regular departmental briefings, and welcomed the ‘excellent’ POELTS who ‘picked up skills fast’, and thought extended post-training shadowing helped. They said jailcraft was ‘excellent’, with good de-escalation skills. Staff-prisoner relations were called ‘very humane’, and they also flagged up the Prisoner Council, and peer mentors, including PIDS and induction reps.

PRISONERS

The prisoners praised staff-prisoner relations, and called management visible and approachable. They also praised the tailored education and training, Prisoner Council, PIDS, safer custody, peer mentors, and the prisoner-led and -designed induction. They ‘loved’ monthly family visits with ‘fantastic’ staff in civvies, and the ‘great’ gardens and grounds. Prison media TV with its information, mindfulness, and foreign language films, was also highly praised.