Onley

MANAGERS

The Managers described a safe jail with good staff-prisoner relationships, ‘excellent’ staff camaraderie, and a visible and supportive Governor. They rated the daily full staff briefings, and the monthly full staff meetings, training shut downs, staff newsletters, and consultation meetings with Officers, as well as the regular ‘lunch with the Gov’ meetings. They valued the staff recognition scheme (with presentations at the monthly staff meetings) and the staff mess; likewise, the Prisoner Council, which met monthly with the No. 1 & senior managers, the ‘very active’ wing forums, and monthly prisoner newsletter. They thought vocational training and local employer links good, and local CRC links, dedicated resettlement wing, and resettlement support ‘excellent’ (with high levels of accommodation and employment on release). A ‘Change Request’ scheme where prisoners and staff share ideas for improvement was ‘very popular’ and ‘effective’.

PRISONERS

The prisoners thought the staff ‘very good’ (‘many go the extra mile’) and said staff-prisoner relations were ‘good’, too, with staff praising and encouraging those trying to change. They also rated prisoner consultation, including monthly wing forums and Prisoner Council meetings. Reception and its staff were ‘excellent’ and ‘welcoming’ (‘sets the tone of the jail’) and gym staff were ‘amazing’ and ‘very supportive’ of prisoners, including those who would not be natural gym goers. Family visits were good: the Inside Out charity doing ‘an excellent job’ on visits across the board.

OFFICERS

Officers said the jail was ‘safe’ compared to others, relations with prisoners were ‘good’, and between staff were ‘especially good’. For staff, they rated a daily briefing sheet, regular full staff briefings and training, formal staff recognition, and a culture of ‘thanks’ for jobs well done. The mess, rest rooms and staff cooking facilities were also valued. Local employer/training links for prisoners were positives too.