Moorland

PRISONERS

The prisoners described good relations with staff, in a ‘consistent’ regime, with safety greatly improved, and a notable reduction in NPS, since becoming fully staffed. They valued the Keyworker scheme and in-cell phones, as well as family days and extended visits for those on Enhanced. They praised the ‘very good’ gym for its facilities, access, and its staff. They also liked the rapid allocation to work and training, and called the PICTA (IT) course ‘brilliant’.

OFFICERS

The Officers said the prison had good relations among staff (who regularly socialise outside work), new staff were made welcome, and the extra staff brought in had improved safety and regime consistency. They valued the staff’s well-being days and annual sports day, the ‘employee of the month’, a ‘very good’ staff café open 7 days a week, and staff rest rooms. They said photocopying mail had reduced Spice, Keywork was ‘working well’, and rated in-cell phones (inc. 24/7 Samaritans access when switched off for general use at night). They thought the separate Basic wing helped tackle challenging behaviour.

MANAGERS

The managers agreed the regime’s consistency had benefited from more staff, that staff-prisoner relations were good, and thought Keywork had made ‘a big difference’. They also valued the staff café, and praised ‘very good’ staff communications (including daily wing briefings, a weekly governor’s newsletter, monthly governor/staff ‘roundtable’ meetings and staff forums led by a CM, as well as quarterly full staff meetings). They noted high retention among new staff (‘really helped’ by a dedicated, full time mentor). They highlighted the CSIP (Challenge Support Intervention Plan), which Moorland piloted, and is now rolled out. Taken together with regular complex case reviews, and a dedicated Basic wing, they thought it helpful in managing more challenging prisoners. They also rated the monthly wing forums for prisoners, managed by CMs.