Wanted – Prison Volunteers

Wanted – Prison Volunteers

Could you do this job?

Inside every prison there is an Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) – a group of ordinary members of the public doing an extraordinary job.HMP/YOI Stoke Heath near Market Drayton is no exception and we are recruiting new members from early April details below. Stoke Heath is a Category C adult mens Training and Resettlement Prison where circa 700 men towards theend of their sentence prepare for release.

By law every prison must have an Independent Monitoring Board. IMBs in prisons derive their responsibilities from the Prison Act 1952.The principle of independent monitoring of prisons is one that has been around since Tudor times, although the IMBs of today are very different to those that existed in the past.

IMB members are independent, unpaid and work an average of 2-3 days per month and normally live within about 25miles. Their role is to monitor the day-to-day life in their local prison to ensure that proper standards of care and decency are maintained.

Members have unrestricted access to their local prison at any time and can talk to any prisoner they wish to, out of sight and hearing of a members of staff if necessary. A typical monitoring visit, for example, might include time spent in the kitchens, workshops, accommodation blocks, recreation areas, healthcare centre and chaplaincy.

Board members also play an important role in dealing with problems inside the establishment. If a prisoner has an issue that he has been unable to resolve through the usual internal channels, he can put in a confidential request to see a member of the IMB. Problems might include concerns over lost property, visits from family or friends, special religious or cultural requirements, or even serious allegations such as bullying.

If something serious happens at the establishment, for example a riot or a death in custody, representatives of the board may be called in to attend and observe the way in which the situation is handled.

Could you do this job? Could you work with others to monitor Stoke Heath prison? Listen to prisoners and staff to come to an objective view? You will need to go through a formal interview process and security clearance before appointment. Training and mentoring is provided. If you are interested to find out moreabout what IMB monitoring involves have a look at our website, our recruitment drive will start in early April, express an interest and apply online (click below).

https://imb.org.uk/prison-volunteer/prison-volunteer-uk/prison-volunteer-birmingham-west-midlands/