Report of the Inquiry into the circumstances of the Death of Bernard ...

23.8 PSO 4000 requires management monitoring of the operation of the IEP scheme.
A member of the Senior Management Team must carry out monthly checks of a sample
of review decisions to ensure fairness and consistency and provide advice and guidance
on report writing and decision making as necessary. Figures relating to the scheme must
be produced annually for the Senior Management Team and Race Equality Action
Team.
Monitoring prison performance
23.9 Mr Vince gave evidence to the inquiry about ways in which Manchester Prison
and its staff are held to account and arrangements in place to promote fair treatment of
prisoners.
23.10 Manchester Prison operates under a Service Level Agreement. A compliance
monitor, who is independent of the prison, reports on the prison’s performance to the
Prison Service Contracts and Competitions Unit. Periodic inspection by the national
Standards Audit Unit rates compliance with Prison Service Standards and the prison
also conducts self-audits. Impact assessments, including prisoner consultation and
evaluation by the prison’s Diversity Team, are conducted on all new policies and
procedures.
23.11 Mr Vince described the various ways in which prisoners can communicate
concerns. These included: confidential letter to the Governor, the Chair of the
Independent Monitoring Board, the Area Manager or a solicitor; telling a member of staff;
contacting the Prisoners’ Helpline; through regular focus groups; speaking with a
Listener or Insider (both are prisoners’ peer support schemes); putting a note in the mail
box. Complaints may be made through the internal complaints procedure and to the
Independent Monitoring Board and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. Prisoners
are made aware of these channels during induction, and all received a comprehensive
induction information booklet.
23.12 The prison takes part in the research measuring the quality of prison life (the
MQPL Survey – see paragraph 17.15 above). A survey of prisoners takes place over
four days every two years. The aim is to make comparisons between similar prisons to
identify examples of good practice and to improve prisons generally.
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