Section Three The second year – activities and key issues by type of detention should not be allowed to deteriorate further. Uncertainty about the future of the prison and the poor conditions had had a negative impact on staff: HMCIPS found the staff to be understandably weary of ‘making do’. Despite this, staff–prisoner relationships at Peterhead were found to be excellent. Glenochil was undergoing a much-needed modernisation and redevelopment programme but this was inevitably having an impact on prisoners’ access to regime opportunities. HMCIPS noted that many prisoners remained in the halls during the day instead of being involved in gainful activity; on one afternoon during the inspection, 483 prisoners were in the halls and only 181 were involved in activities or attending visits or other appointments. While it is hoped that this situation will improve once the prison’s redevelopment is complete, HMCIPS will continue to monitor this area. HMCIPS was similarly concerned about the 40% of prisoners at Addiewell found locked in their cells during the day and not taking part in work, learning or physical activity. This was despite Addiewell providing each prisoner with a personalised timetable and making efforts to ensure that prisoners were engaged in purposeful activity. In contrast to Glenochil and Addiewell, there was adequate access to activities for prisoners at Peterhead. HMCIPS identified several areas of special interest which are fundamental to offender management. One such area is staff training and development. HMCIPS found shortfalls in role-specific staff training at both Glenochil and Peterhead. At Glenochil, this had resulted in some staff lacking the confidence and competence to perform their role effectively. HMCIPS was encouraged by a thorough staff training programme at Addiewell. Another area of special interest is prisoners’ families. HMCIPS has regularly stressed the importance of visitor centres at prisons, particularly those prisons which are national facilities or which have poor transport links. Visitor centres should be an essential requirement, providing refreshments and a place to wait in decent conditions and for families to gather themselves in advance of a visit or to regroup afterwards. Staff at visitor centres can provide essential support and advice. However, there was no visitor centre at either Glenochil or Addiewell. At Glenochil and Peterhead, HMCIPS was concerned at the lack of programmes to address offending behaviour. At Glenochil, there was a long list of prisoners waiting to be assessed for programmes to address behaviour, in particular the violence prevention programme. In its thematic review of arrangements for progressing prisoners from closed to open conditions, HMCIPS noted that risk assessment, risk mitigation and prisoner case management processes had been evolving over a number of years. Piecemeal changes to Scottish Prison Service policies and practices had, however, resulted in increasing disjointedness within the progression system. While the constituent parts of the system were themselves generally appropriate, the inter-relationship between them had become unclear and a review of the progression system as a whole should be undertaken.18 18 HMCIPS, Review of the arrangements for progressing prisoners from closed to open conditions (2011). 23

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