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9. REINTEGRATION
Outcome
Appropriate steps are taken to ensure that prisoners are reintegrated safely into the community and where possible into a situation less likely to lead to further crime.
9.1 Not fully met. Arrangements for Integrated Case Management are good; some programmes to address offending behaviour are in place; a wide range of community based partner organisations operate within a very good Links Centre in the prison; and there is a well structured pre-release programme in place for long-term prisoners. However, the sex offenders do not participate in the " SOTP" programme which is designed specifically to address sex offending behaviour.
Integrated Case Management
9.2 Integrated Case Management ( ICM) procedures have two levels, standard and enhanced. The enhanced procedures allow for all prisoners serving sentences of over four years and all sex offenders to be involved in meetings to review progress and agree strategies to reduce the risk of re-offending and causing harm on release. The nature of many of the long-term prisoners in Dumfries who are either protesting their innocence or refusing to participate in offence related programmes makes ICM and risk management particularly challenging and important.
9.3 Two first line managers have lead responsibility for ICM and risk management. There is a dedicated ICM co-ordinator and an administrator for ICM and Home Detention Curfew ( HDC). At the time of the inspection there were four prisoners on HDC.
9.4 ICM meetings take place in the Links Centre or the video conference room. Approximately 25% of the ICM meetings have been held via a video link with the community based social worker. A personal officer scheme operates within the long-term prisoner population. Additionally a number of residential officers are trained as risk and needs assessors.
9.5 There is good cooperation between risk and needs staff and prison based social work staff in the sharing of information to assist in the assessment of risk. This is particularly effective in the use of the new sex offender risk assessment tool ( SAO7). It is however concerning to note that the introduction of this has led to a cessation of the risk of harm assessment tools. These instruments are not interchangeable, and the abandonment of a structured risk of harm assessment should be reviewed.
9.6 Personal officers should meet with and compile a report on each of their prisoners at least once per month. There were gaps in the frequency of monthly reports and many of the reports were superficial in nature and did not evidence any attempts there may have been to challenge many prisoners' attitudes to their offences and interventions.
9.7 ICM meetings happen within the designated timescales. Prisoners have sight of their dossier three days prior to the meeting. Not every prisoner takes the opportunity to attend the meeting and there is no evidence that they meet regularly with their personal officer ahead of the meeting. Appearance of personal officers at ICM meetings is poor, largely due to shift patterns. Of 146 case conferences this year personal officers were not in attendance at 103. The personal officer scheme with regard to meeting the prisoner prior to, and attendance at, ICM meetings should be re-invigorated.
9.8 There was evidence from the documentation that the ICM process has a direct link to the Risk Management Group ( RMG). All prisoners, for example, who are due to be considered for open conditions are discussed by the RMG. Minutes available to inspectors indicate that the meeting is not always chaired by a senior manager. All RMG meeting should be chaired by a senior manager.
9.9 Due to the nature of the offences of many of the prisoners at Dumfries there requires to be a focus on child protection issues at visits. Prison social workers play a significant role in this. Social work staff are provided with visitor lists to ensure that all matters of child protection are addressed. They work closely with local child protection services and have raised awareness about child protection issues across the prison. Prison staff are alert to the issues which should be passed to social work staff. There have been instances where communication links have broken down and inappropriate visits have taken place: but such instances are rare.
9.10 Inspectors observed an ICM case conference. The meeting was attended by the prisoner, prison based and community based social workers, personal officer, the ICM co-ordinator and a minute taker. This meeting covered all the issues effectively and supported and challenged the prisoner appropriately. The prisoner had access to the file ahead of the meeting but claimed to have difficulty understanding the content due to his poor reading skills.
9.11 Risk assessments, case conference minutes and community integration plans are recorded on the appropriate domains on PR2.
Interventions to Address Offending Behaviour
9.12 The programmes unit comprises an office and a well equipped group room. The Programme staff deliver 'Constructs' and 'First Steps'. Completion of two Constructs and three First Steps programmes are the 2008-09 contracted target. The Sleep and Anxiety and Relationships programmes have been discontinued. In the past three years the prison has exceeded its target for approved and accredited programmes. The unit staff also provide reports for the ICM and Parole process.
9.13 Staff reported a significant need for Violence Prevention Programme ( VPP) which is not available at Dumfries. At the time of the inspection there were 36 prisoners who had triggered the need for an assessment. This means that Dumfries prisoners requiring VPP need to transfer to access the programme. The added complication is that protection prisoners are not able to participate with mainstream prisoners so therefore need to wait until there are sufficient protection prisoners for a full course. There may also be an issue of protection prisoners being safely accommodated in another prison for the duration of the course. It is recommended that the Violence Prevention Programme is delivered in Dumfries.
Progression
9.14 The long-term population, by the nature of their offences and the fact they refuse to participate in offence focused work, do not progress to top end or open conditions within the SPS. There is no internal progression for long-term prisoners either.
9.15 Short-term prisoners who address their identified needs and achieve a low supervision level may be considered for progression to 'E' Hall. The regime in 'E' Hall allows greater access to recreation, and access to enhanced family visits. They can also cook their own brunch at weekends. There is a requirement for these prisoners to attend education.
Partner Organisations
9.16 Management actively encourage the engagement of partner organisations. There is a wide range of partners including Jobcentre Plus, Citizen's Advice, Hope and Alcoholics Anonymous. Most of the partners operate from the Links Centre which is a very good facility, although it now has demands which it cannot always meet. Two of the partners, Jobcentre Plus and Citizens Advice, spend part of the week in the prison and part in the community. This helps to develop stronger throughcare links. Clients released from prison are able to have meetings in the community with the same staff that they see in the prison. Partners also have close links with the Dumfries and Galloway homeless liaison officer.
9.17 Phoenix Futures also have a base in the Links Centre and this helps maximise effective communication between the partners. Partners hold 'ad hoc' meetings. In attendance is the Interventions Manager, ICM Manager, literacy/numeracy staff, Citizen's Advice, Phoenix Futures and Independent Living Support staff. This is a potentially very useful meeting which could be more effective if it was planned and minuted.
Preparation for Release
9.18 There is a well structured pre-release programme in place for long-term prisoners. Three months prior to their liberation or parole qualifying dates they are listed for the programme. Each course has 10-12 prisoners. There is input from the police, prison and community based social workers. It includes information on housing, budgeting, healthy living and aspects of disclosure. The use of the police to explain issues relating to the sex offender register and the use of criminal justice social work to explain the main aspects of community supervision is an area of good practice for this type of prisoner. The first pre-release session is mandatory, the rest are voluntary, but experience shows that retention is good.
9.19 An average of five pre-release courses are held each year, catering for 62 prisoners.
9.20 The long-term pre-release programme is well structured and comprehensive, but short-term prisoners do not have access to a structured programme. Prior to release short term prisoners are referred the Links Centre where agencies will individually address identified release issues. When there is a particularly complex case a multi-disciplinary pre-release case conference is arranged. Some prisoners are able to see, in the community after release, the same workers from Jobcentre Plus and Citizens Advice that they see in the prison. This is an area of good practice.
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