Edited Highlights of an announced inspection of HM Prison Altcourse 7-11 February 2005 by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

HMP Altcourse is a local prison on the outskirts of Liverpool…Within the prison system, it is designated as a high performing prison. This was its first full inspection since 1999, when its work was highly commended. The prison was described as a “Jewel in the Crown.”

This inspection confirmed that Altcourse is indeed a very good local prison. Indeed, at some points inspectors had to remind themselves that it was not in fact a training prison. The environment and the quality of staff-prisoner interaction was extremely good. And the prison provided high quality resettlement services that identified and tried to meet prisoners' needs.

Moreover, it offers a model from which all prisons could learn a great deal.

Arrival in Custody

Admissions

• …admissions area was clean…
• Visibility and supervision of prisoners were very good.
• Throughout the admissions procedure staff were courteous…
• …68% of respondents said they had been treated well or very well…benchmark of 53%…

First Night

• …77% or respondents said they felt safe on their first night…benchmark of 68%…

Induction

• …62% of respondents said that induction covered everything they needed to know… benchmark of 35%…

Good practice

The admissions area remained open over the lunch period; this minimised waiting times for prisoners and escort staff arriving from court.

Environment and relationships

Accommodation and facilities

• …buildings were in a good state of repair and decoration…
• …external areas were immaculately maintained.
• All the cells we visited were light, well decorated and relatively comfortable.
• Prisoners spent much of the day out of their cell…
• …residential areas were calm…

Hygiene

• …cells were clean and tidy…
• 90% of respondents said they could get cell cleaning materials… benchmark of 58%…
• Showers were available at all times…99% of respondents said they could take a shower daily.
• Bedding was in good order…changed weekly.

Staff-prisoner relationships and personal officers

• Staff and prisoners enjoyed a positive and appropriate relationship…
• 72% of respondents said that most staff in the prison treated them with respect…benchmark of 67%…

Duty of Care

Bullying

• The systems for managing suspected or known bullies were very thorough.

Self-harm and Suicide

• There was a detailed published policy for the care of prisoners at risk of self-harm or suicide…
• …prisoners with whom we spoke said they felt supported and that staff contacted them regularly.

Good practice

The local initiative of monitoring a prisoner for up to 48 hours without the full requirements of F2052SH (self-harm monitoring) gave staff the opportunity to identify and support prisoners who gave cause for concern but were not suicidal.

Race relations

• Race Relations…there was an up-to-date policy…
• Meetings were well attended…
• An experienced race relations liaison officer (RRLO) was in post…
• In our survey, no prisoner said they had been victimised because of their race or ethnicity by staff.

Family and friends

• No restrictions were placed on the number of letters prisoners could receive…
• The visits hall was open daily…
• …81% of respondents said they had the opportunity to have visits to which they were entitled…benchmark of 62%…
• 42% of respondents had a visit in their first week…benchmark of 32%.
• …visits hall was light, well decorated and functional…

Good practice

Enhanced-status prisoners could enjoy Sunday brunch with their visitors and for £1.50 could have Polaroid photographs taken of them and their family or friends.

Prisoners were called to the visits hall only when their visitor had checked in a the visitors' centre, reducing the time they had to wait.

Legal rights

Good practice

Appeal applications were posted by recorded delivery at the prison's expense. This was relatively inexpensive but ensured that critical correspondence was tracked and provided reassurance to prisoners.

Healthcare

• …whole department was exceptionally clean, well decorated and bright.
• …pharmacy was secure…
• …dental surgery was large and well furnished.
• …main treatment room was large and well equipped…
• …checked emergency equipment daily…
• …crisis suite…calming and comfortable…

Records

• …clinical records…very well maintained…
• …good examples of individual care plan for patients.

Delivery of Care

• …staff were enthusiastic, committed and well regarded by prisoners…
• 58% of respondents said the overall quality of healthcare was good or very good…benchmark 28%…
• …good system for the management of prisoners with chronic illnesses.
• An excellent folder with policies and protocols covered all aspects of healthcare…

Inpatients

• Access to showers and the bath was good…
• Patients were out of their cells all day…
• …communication between staff and patients was good.
• …prisoners felt that they were well cared for.

Good practice

All prisoners receiving long sentences were offered accommodation in healthcare on their first night.

Prisoners with mental health problems were managed on normal location wherever possible.

Activities

Education and library provision

• …leadership and management of education and training were satisfactory…
• Prisoners were well supported in all areas of learning…
• …teachers were appropriately qualified.
• …lessons were well planned and acknowledged the individual needs of prisoners.
• …particularly good and innovative use of art…
• ICT resources were particularly good…

Library

• …large, well equipped learning resources…
• …easy for prisoners to access the library…
• …library provided a clean and orderly environment..

Work

• …prison provided regular structured activity…
• …percentage of prisoners who were unlocked and occupied during the day rose to over 85%. This was impressive for any prison, especially a busy local prison.
• Prisoner attendance rates were good…
• …levels of motivation high.
• …prisoners consistently rated activities at Altcourse above the local prison benchmark…
• 30% thought their job would help them on release… benchmark of 19%…
• 36% felt the same about their training…benchmark of 20%…
• Their was an appropriate range of workshops…

Good practice

Over 80% (85%) of prisoners were unlocked and occupied in structured activity during the day.

Physical education and health promotion

• …wide and varied programme of sports and recreational activity seven days a week.
• …once a year the activity staff ran a football academy for school children.
• …sports centre was well equipped…
• Access to PE was very good…
• 59% of respondents said they could go to the gym three or more times a week…benchmark of 13%…

Faith and religious activity

• Two-thirds of prisoners…said they could speak to a religious leader of their faith in private…
• …main chapel…spacious, light and quiet area…
• …many prisoners appreciated it as a haven…
• …62% of prisoners…said they had seen a member of the chaplaincy with 24hours of their arrival.

Time out of cell

• …prisoners spent much of the day and evening (7.15am to 8.30pm) out of their cells.
• …40% of respondents said they spent 10 hours or more out of their cell on a weekday…benchmark of 7%… 37% on a weekend…benchmark of 2%…

Segregation unit

Good practice

The special cell had not been used in the previous 18 months and staff in the segregation unit considered it a matter of pride that they had not had to use it.

Two levels of regime were available to prisoners segregated under the terms of good order or discipline, according to their behaviour.

Incentives and earned privileges

• …prisoners had a good working knowledge of the scheme.
• …64% or respondents said they were treated fairly under the IEP scheme…benchmark of 41%…

Catering

• …food was of reasonable quality…

Resettlement

• Management of resettlement was effective and forward thinking.
• There was a clear resettlement policy which was well publicised.

Sentence and custody planning.

• Sentence plans were completed to a high standard.

Substance use

Good practice

A supportive care programme for prisoners undergoing detoxification was being developed on the Furlong unit.

Mental health services were provided to deal with patients with complex dual diagnosis problems.

Public protection

Good practice