HMP Acklington Reinspection - Inside Time

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Reinspection report: HMP Acklington Reinspection, 20 February 2008 12 of 14Leadership and management Grade 3StrengthsMany good actions to improve range and quality of learning and skills provisionGood management of education and prison enterprisesGood links and partnershipsWeaknessesInsufficiently effective activity application procedureInsufficiently effective management of attendance and punctuality28. The many improvements to the quality of learning and skills provision identified at theprevious inspection have continued and become more established. The prisonimprovement plan and reinspection action plan are actively supported through high levelsof commitment from the prison Governor and head of resettlement. Key groups meetmore frequently now to drive improvement. The recently produced learning and skillsstrategy links clearly to the prison service priority to reduce re-offending. It provides anexplicit focus on ensuring that the promotion and support for learning and skills becomesthe responsibility of all members of staff. New staffing appointments are based oncompetence rather than grade. Investment in resources is good. There are many morelearning opportunities and qualifications than previously. A wide range of 25 in-celllearning packs extend informal learning opportunities and contribute effectively topurposeful activity hours. Planning for re-settlement is much improved and promotesactive choice by learners. Approximately 70% of the prison population are now engagedin purposeful activities. The prison recognises that there is still a shortfall and is exploringmore flexible delivery approaches to maximise opportunities. Communications betweenstaff have improved, but aspects of communication between the prison and offenders areless effective.29. Operational management of education and prison enterprises is good. Good work has beencarried out to improve the sharing of good practice between teams.. Observation ofteaching and learning processes and the use of standardised individual learning plans arein place. There are marked improvements in the accuracy and use of data for target-settingand monitoring progress. Good emphasis on staff development and training supports thedevelopment of new areas. The prison has a good resource of vocational assessors.Effective arrangements are in place to ensure internal verification activity is carried out.The gym now has all the quality systems in place to support it as an approved NVQassessment centre when the refurbishment programme is complete. A high number of staffhave undertaken development to achieve assessor awards to deliver national vocationalawards recognised by employers. There is good joint working between the college and theprison to deliver these awards.30. The good partnership working identified at the previous inspection has continued. Theallocation process is effective, more open and fair, and based on good internal links. Amulti-agency approach includes good offender supervisor and IAG staff contributions inplanning the learning journey. This was a weakness at the previous inspection. Allocationsare based on all available information and learner needs identified in their sentence plan.
Reinspection report: HMP Acklington Reinspection, 20 February 2008 13 of 14Good external links have informed many of the initiatives adopted by the prison. Forexample the improved induction process and resettlement programme were adopted fromwork at Durham prison. There are effective links with some prisons that help ensurelearners can complete qualifications if they are transferred. The prison actively works topromote good internal links and joint working through development of a whole prisonapproach in supporting learning and skills. This is at a relatively early stage ofdevelopment. A range of initiatives aim to engage employers at all levels to consideremploying ex-offenders. This was a strength at the previous inspection. No offenders werereleased on temporary licence.31. While the allocation process is good, the system for processing activity applications doesnot ensure that they arrive in a timely manner for the next allocations board. Often there isa delay in receiving them from the wings. There are unnecessary vacancies in activities.32. The management of attendance and punctuality is insufficiently effective There were latestarts on both afternoons in the inspection week. Almost half an hour was lost from thestart of the same subject on each day. Tutors had half an hour to deliver a learning sessionthat they had planned an hour for. Learners report that they sometimes arrive with only afew minutes of learning session left. Some poor patterns of attendance were noted inregisters. Reasons for absences are not always clearly recorded. Tutors are not informedearly enough about reasons for non-attendances. The prison is aware of this and monitorsattendance daily, but it is not clear that punctuality is monitored.Equality of opportunity Contributory grade 333. The prisons arrangements for equality and diversity are satisfactory. There has been muchwork to improve equality and diversity policies in the last 12 months as an integral part ofthe prison improvement plan. Equality and diversity impact assessments are nowcompleted. Data is regularly reviewed to monitor the prison profile and representation ofdifferent groups in various activities. Offenders from minority ethnic groups are wellrepresented in education and at the gym. The race equality officer is full time. A recentprison survey identifies a 10% improvement in offender perceptions about race relations.
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HMP Acklington Reinspection - Inside Time

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