Residential Organisation
The Residential function is organised into two separate groups functioning as a Training Prison (convicted prisoners) and as a Local Prison (remand, unsentenced and short term prisoners). The Training Prison consists of six long-term units for sentenced prisoners including a Resettlement Unit, plus the Segregation Unit. The Local Prison consists of four residential units including Unit 15 which is a dedicated Induction Unit.
Sentence Management and Reducing Re-offending
Glen Parva works with the Probation Service in utilising OAsys to identify and classify offending related needs. The information in OASys is used to tackle the specific issues that drive a prisoners offending behaviour and is based on the seven pathways. This approach provides a structured risk assessment, which is used to highlight a prisoner’s suitability for offending behaviour programmes, education and employment training, and links closely with a prisoner’s individual learning plan. All prisoners are assessed by the OASys team at Glen Parva to ensure their specific needs can be met.
The Reducing Re-offending function also includes processes through which prisoners can be resettled back into the community. This work can also involve, subject to risk assessment, release on temporary licence, works experience and sign posting offenders onto relevant job, education or training providers.
Psychology
The Psychology department provides interventions for prisoners to enable them to address their offending behaviour. Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS) is a 20 session programme that helps develop skills such as problem solving, management of emotions, and communication skills, which in turn can help to reduce re-offending. CALM (Controlling Anger and Learning to Manage it) is 24 sessions long and teaches prisoners how to control their emotions more effectively, particularly in relation to offending behaviour.
In addition, support is provided to help prisoners cope whilst they are in prison with difficulties such as self-harm and anger management, including relaxation training for prisoners on the Violence Reduction Scheme.
The department is involved in a wide range of areas, including research such as MQPL (measuring the quality of prisoners lives) and consultancy for various committees.
Suicide Prevention
Glen Parva as an establishment is committed to the provision of resources to identify and support prisoners in crisis. Reflecting national policy, we use the ACCT system to identify and support those prisoners currently at risk of suicide or self – harm. The support offered is tailored to meet the needs of individual prisoners and involves all disciplines and agencies within the establishment, as well as peer – group support. The latter is provided by Listeners, who are specially selected prisoners trained and supervised by The Samaritans, as well as The Insiders, who are trained by prison staff. This policy is continually updated and reviewed with the aim of ensuring that prisoners have access to care and support equivalent to that available in the community.
Drugs Strategy
All prisoners are assessed by Health Care and Drug Support Services staff on reception. If a drug related problem is identified there are provisions for:
- Detoxification
- One to one counselling CARATs
- Group Work
- Short Duration Drugs Programme (for short sentence prisoners)
- P-ASRO (accredited drugs programme)
- Drug Testing
Glen Parva employs full time drug workers co-ordinated by a full time Drug Support Manager, who support prisoners throughout their sentence and liaise with external agencies to ensure that support is available for prisoners upon release.
There is provision for 300 prisoners on the compact based programme and all prisoners on the enhanced level of the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme or in key work place positions are subject to compact based drug testing.
Resettlement
Glen Parva is committed to reducing re-offending and, along with other programmes, has a team dedicated to the resettlement of Young Offenders. The team provides practical advice and assistance with employment and housing issues. Members of the team interview all new arrivals at Glen Parva and can help resolve some of the problems associated with imprisonment. Glen Parva has been working closely with organisations such as The Prince’s Trust, Age Concern and National Grid Transco to provide courses that promote the opportunity of a settled lifestyle for Young Offenders on release and improved employability.
Medical Facilities
Care and support is provided by a multidisciplinary healthcare team with 24 hour nursing cover. Leicestershire County and Rutland PCT is now responsible for the commissioning of healthcare at Glen Parva.
Glen Parva provides a wide range of Mental and Physical Healthcare services available to all prisoners on a needs basis. Each prisoner is seen on arrival at Glen Parva for a basic health needs consultation, any health needs identified will be dealt with or referred on at this time. Each prisoner takes part in an information session during their induction which explains the services available from healthcare during their time with us, and how they can access them.
All prisoners are offered routine screening for Chlamydia as part of the national screening programme for under 25 year olds, and vaccination for Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Meningitis C etc dependent on their previous history of vaccination to the UK schedules.
Those prisoners identified as needing prescribed medication in the community will be referred to the GP, to continue this medication, and be reviewed regularly to ascertain effectiveness and further need. Those prisoners with long term condition, such as asthma, epilepsy, sickle cell etc are also identified, and appropriate care and interventions planned with the prisoner.
Prisoners can self refer at any time during their stay if they have further health needs or are unwell, prisoner can self certificate illness for up to 24 hours or be seen more urgently dependent on their illness.
The following services are available to all prisoners:
- Nurse triage
- Mental Health Clinics
- GP
- Dentist
- Optician
- Well man checks
- Vaccinations
- Sexual health clinic/ GUM
Prisoners also have access to physiotherapy if necessary, this referral will be actioned either by a nurse or GP following assessment.
Most self referrals will initially see a nurse for assessment of urgency in order to prioritise waiting lists and clinic appointments, and there are a number of nurse led clinics currently running within the department.
Prisoner who have acute health needs requiring secondary care interventions are referred to the local hospital by the GP service or other clinician as appropriate, in the case of emergencies referral may be by a registered nurse to the Accident and Emergency Department following initial assessment.
At the point where a prisoner is due to be released from the establishment, the nurse responsible for the prisoners care during their stay will review the prisoners health interventions and provide a summary of care to the prisoners usual GP, as well as ensuring that medicines are available to take home if appropriate.
The Primary Mental Health Team follow a philosophy of social inclusion within the prison environment. The overall aim is to maintain a prisoners mental well being, while giving them access to the full prison regime. This is achieved through an outreach model, where prisoners are supported in their daily lives by appropriately qualified nursing staff, who will visit them in their individual places of work, and residential units.
All prisoners who have contact with the Primary Mental Health Team are assessed for access to Therapeutic Day Care, where they can access groups to help with anger and anxiety issues, social skill deficits, and learning needs through links with the education department. Prisoners are provided with therapies such as CBT to help them cope with common mental health problems through the duration of their detention. The team consists of specialist nurses in mental health and learning disability, who are supported by Clinical Support Workers with a wide range of experience in specialist areas.
The Primary Mental Health Team is also supported by Northamptonshire Mental Health Trust, who provides secondary mental health input for patients with severe and enduring Mental Health needs.