Changes to Policies Governing Workshops and Laundries in Prison Industries
In the UK's prison system, the decision-making process for opening, closing, or changing prison industries workshops and laundries is guided by the Policy Framework, designed primarily for HMPPS staff in prison establishments.
The responsibility for these decisions rests with Prison Governors, Directors, or equivalent roles, who must ensure safety and compliance with policies. They are tasked with identifying training, supervision, and information needs for staff and third parties, integrating health, safety, and security frameworks (HSF) in their decisions, and prioritising work activities based on staffing availability and alignment with Prison Regime Management Plans or Probation Regional HS Strategic Plans.
The Head of Education, Skills and Work plays a role in shaping the strategic approach to work in prisons, including prison industries, ensuring alignment with education, reoffending reduction, and resettlement strategies. This collaboration aims to maximise opportunities such as Release on Temporary License and employment post-release.
The Policy Framework outlines duties for staff in prison establishments, mandates a decision-making process for Industrial Managers and Governors, and applies to Industrial Managers, Heads of Reducing Reoffending, and Governors. However, it does not specify a step-by-step procedural checklist, nor does it state whether the decision-making process applies to all staff in prison establishments.
Moreover, the Policy Framework does not mention any specific criteria for the decision-making process regarding prison industries workshops or laundries, and it does not offer guidance on making decisions outside of the specified process. It also does not provide rules for considering the opening, closing, or changing of prison industries workshops or laundries outside of the defined process.
The decision-making process is designed to be robust and consistent, taking into account the needs of HMPPS. The Policy Framework offers general guidance for staff when considering the opening, closing, or changing of a prison industries workshop or laundry, and it applies to decisions regarding the operation of prison workshops and laundries.
[1] Source: Policy Framework for Work in Prisons: Guidance on Decision Making for Workshops and Laundries [2] Source: Strategic Approach to Education, Skills, and Work in Prisons: A Collaborative Approach for Reducing Reoffending
In the UK's context, the financing of prison industries is not explicitly mentioned within the Policy Framework for Work in Prisons, suggesting that it may fall under the jurisdiction of the finance industry. The decision-making process for changing or opening prison industries workshops, as outlined in the Policy Framework, aligns with the manufacturing industry standards, prioritizing safety, compliance, and strategic alignment.
