On 31 December 2014, there was a 12% shortfall in overall staffing in prisons and young offender institutions within the West Midlands region, which was largely covered by the short-term use of agency staff, or the use of overtime. Shortfalls in prison officer numbers were lower - at 6% - and are largely covered by the use of payment plus and the deployment of officers from other prisons to establishments with the most acute shortfalls. We continue to recruit permanent staff to meet regional needs.

The central administrative database does not record staffing in sufficient detail to allow the number of staff employed in the National Tactical Response Group to be identified.

Staff working at private prisons are employed by a number of providers, to deliver a range of services. These include, for example, probation services, education and healthcare, as well as custodial services. While each prison is managed by a main contracted provider, it is not possible to provide information covering workforce staff employed by all these providers.

Information on how many staff of the National Offender Management Service speak Welsh is not held centrally and to collate this information to answer this question would incur disproportionate cost.

There is no specific ranking system used in regards to staffing shortfalls, which vary from month to month dependant on specific circumstances. However, at the date of the last published staffing data, 30 September 2014, the largest shortfall between benchmarked staffing level of officer grade staff and staff in post was in East Midlands region. Two regions, North East and Yorkshire and Humberside were showing as having no shortfall of officers at the latest published date.

Staffing levels have been reviewed prison by prison as part of a ‘benchmarking approach’. Benchmark staffing requirements for each establishment have been agreed with the unions and the NAO has commented that the wider strategy for the prison estate is the most coherent and comprehensive for many years. It delivers efficiencies while ensuring that public sector prisons operate safely, decently and securely. It delivers efficiencies while ensuring that public sector prisons operate safely, decently and securely. Benchmarking optimises the skills of staff by introducing new ways of working and puts all prison officers in prisoner facing role.

The Prison Service has been returning to large scale recruitment as the period of closures and benchmarking has been coming to an end.

NOMS has had a 24-hour staff helpline in place since 6^th October 2014. Prior to that date, staff used the Ministry of Justice Shared Services’ contact centre helpline which operated on week days only during office hours.

From 6 October 2014 up to 31 December 2014, the external provider of the new employee assistance services reports that there were 708 callers to the comprehensive external telephone helpline. This number includes all calls made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week during this period.

The number of staff dismissed from the public sector prison service in England and Wales, together with the reason for dismissal can be found in the table below.

Table: Annual headcount of dismissals from public sector prison service in England & Wales, 2010-2014

Information on all custodial sentences received for crimes committed by serving members of Prison Service staff is not held centrally.

A nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme has been operating since 21 October 2013. Information on the number of officers serving on detached duty before the introduction of the national scheme is not available.

The national scheme is co-ordinated by the National Offender Management Service.

Information on the average weekly provision of staff, in terms of full time equivalent officers, that were provided as part of the nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme, is shown in the table below for January to September 2014, which is the date of the latest published HR data.

Table: Average Monthly provision of staff on detached duty to prisons in England & Wales January - September 2014

Staff numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10 in line with the department’s policy for presenting staffing data. Values of 5 or fewer are denoted as ~.

Establishments that have provided staff on detached duty have been able to do so because of surplus staff available, as a result of displacement of staff following prison closures or change of role. Other prisons, without surplus staffing levels have supplied staff for detached duty where this was possible whilst maintaining stable and safe regimes.

Information on the ten establishments which have provided and received the highest number of staff on detached duty between January and September 2014 can be found below.

Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons providing the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014

Downview has been closed for the duration of the Detached Duty Scheme. The Verne was closed whilst being converted into an Immigration Removal Centre; it re-opened September 2014.

Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons receiving the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014

On some occasions detached duty is organised from a group of establishments at the same time and on these occasions it is not possible to attribute staff to particular establishments.

Recruitment into the National Offender Management Service is managed by Shared Services Connect Limited on behalf of NOMS. Relevant information on the progress of each candidate through the recruitment stages is collected as part of the administration of the recruitment system.

A nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme has been operating since 21 October 2013. Information on the number of officers serving on detached duty before the introduction of the national scheme is not available.

The national scheme is co-ordinated by the National Offender Management Service.

Information on the average weekly provision of staff, in terms of full time equivalent officers, that were provided as part of the nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme, is shown in the table below for January to September 2014, which is the date of the latest published HR data.

Table: Average Monthly provision of staff on detached duty to prisons in England & Wales January - September 2014

Staff numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10 in line with the department’s policy for presenting staffing data. Values of 5 or fewer are denoted as ~.

Establishments that have provided staff on detached duty have been able to do so because of surplus staff available, as a result of displacement of staff following prison closures or change of role. Other prisons, without surplus staffing levels have supplied staff for detached duty where this was possible whilst maintaining stable and safe regimes.

Information on the ten establishments which have provided and received the highest number of staff on detached duty between January and September 2014 can be found below.

Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons providing the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014

Downview has been closed for the duration of the Detached Duty Scheme. The Verne was closed whilst being converted into an Immigration Removal Centre; it re-opened September 2014.

Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons receiving the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014

On some occasions detached duty is organised from a group of establishments at the same time and on these occasions it is not possible to attribute staff to particular establishments.

A nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme has been operating since 21 October 2013. Information on the number of officers serving on detached duty before the introduction of the national scheme is not available.

The national scheme is co-ordinated by the National Offender Management Service.

Information on the average weekly provision of staff, in terms of full time equivalent officers, that were provided as part of the nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme, is shown in the table below for January to September 2014, which is the date of the latest published HR data.

Table: Average Monthly provision of staff on detached duty to prisons in England & Wales January - September 2014

Staff numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10 in line with the department’s policy for presenting staffing data. Values of 5 or fewer are denoted as ~.

Establishments that have provided staff on detached duty have been able to do so because of surplus staff available, as a result of displacement of staff following prison closures or change of role. Other prisons, without surplus staffing levels have supplied staff for detached duty where this was possible whilst maintaining stable and safe regimes.

Information on the ten establishments which have provided and received the highest number of staff on detached duty between January and September 2014 can be found below.

Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons providing the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014

Downview has been closed for the duration of the Detached Duty Scheme. The Verne was closed whilst being converted into an Immigration Removal Centre; it re-opened September 2014.

Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons receiving the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014

On some occasions detached duty is organised from a group of establishments at the same time and on these occasions it is not possible to attribute staff to particular establishments.

A nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme has been operating since 21 October 2013. Information on the number of officers serving on detached duty before the introduction of the national scheme is not available.

The national scheme is co-ordinated by the National Offender Management Service.

Information on the average weekly provision of staff, in terms of full time equivalent officers, that were provided as part of the nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme, is shown in the table below for January to September 2014, which is the date of the latest published HR data.

Table: Average Monthly provision of staff on detached duty to prisons in England & Wales January - September 2014

Staff numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10 in line with the department’s policy for presenting staffing data. Values of 5 or fewer are denoted as ~.

Establishments that have provided staff on detached duty have been able to do so because of surplus staff available, as a result of displacement of staff following prison closures or change of role. Other prisons, without surplus staffing levels have supplied staff for detached duty where this was possible whilst maintaining stable and safe regimes.

Information on the ten establishments which have provided and received the highest number of staff on detached duty between January and September 2014 can be found below.

Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons providing the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014

Downview has been closed for the duration of the Detached Duty Scheme. The Verne was closed whilst being converted into an Immigration Removal Centre; it re-opened September 2014.

Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons receiving the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014

On some occasions detached duty is organised from a group of establishments at the same time and on these occasions it is not possible to attribute staff to particular establishments.

National Offender Management Service staff write to the Secretary of State on a wide range of issues. A central record of the detail of these letters is not held.

A nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme has been operating since 21 October 2013. Information on the number of officers serving on detached duty before the introduction of the national scheme is not available.

The national scheme is co-ordinated by the National Offender Management Service.

Information on the average weekly provision of staff, in terms of full time equivalent officers, that were provided as part of the nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme, is shown in the table below for January to September 2014, which is the date of the latest published HR data.

Table: Average Monthly provision of staff on detached duty to prisons in England & Wales January - September 2014

Staff numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10 in line with the department’s policy for presenting staffing data. Values of 5 or fewer are denoted as ~.

Establishments that have provided staff on detached duty have been able to do so because of surplus staff available, as a result of displacement of staff following prison closures or change of role. Other prisons, without surplus staffing levels have supplied staff for detached duty where this was possible whilst maintaining stable and safe regimes.

Information on the ten establishments which have provided and received the highest number of staff on detached duty between January and September 2014 can be found below.

Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons providing the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014

Downview has been closed for the duration of the Detached Duty Scheme. The Verne was closed whilst being converted into an Immigration Removal Centre; it re-opened September 2014.

Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons receiving the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014

On some occasions detached duty is organised from a group of establishments at the same time and on these occasions it is not possible to attribute staff to particular establishments.

The following National Offender Management Service (NOMS) policies relating to post-incident care for all staff, including the Young People’s Estate, are currently extant though not all are published externally for security reasons:

PSI 08/2010 – Post Incident Care https://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/offenders/psipso/psi 2010/psi_2010_08_post_incident_care.doc

PSI 2014/09 – AI 2014/06 Incident Management (this PSI is not available publicly for security reasons)

PSI 64/2011 - Management of prisoners at risk of harm to self, to others and from others (Safer Custody)

https://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/offenders/psipso/psi-2011/psi-64-2011-safer-custody.doc

Any local arrangements (protocols) for implementing these policies would not be published externally or otherwise made available to the Commons Library.

NOMS PSI 08/2010 "Post Incident Care" is currently under review; this review includes the role of Care Teams which are cited in the policy and the revision will make reference to the new Employee Assistance services (since October 2014) and Occupational Health services, which are available to all staff and managers. We anticipate that this review will be completed by the summer.

In addition to the publication of relevant PSIs, NOMS has internally published specific guidance for all staff and managers on the employee assistance services. There have also been a number of national internal intranet articles and guides published recently on managing wellbeing generally and in specific circumstances, directed to all staff.

NOMS has been through a lot of change in recent years. Staff wellbeing is important to NOMS and this year we are focusing on resources to enhance the mental and physical wellbeing of our staff, ensuring they are supported through this change.

The following National Offender Management Service (NOMS) policies relating to post-incident care for all staff, including the Young People’s Estate, are currently extant though not all are published externally for security reasons:

PSI 08/2010 – Post Incident Care https://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/offenders/psipso/psi 2010/psi_2010_08_post_incident_care.doc

PSI 2014/09 – AI 2014/06 Incident Management (this PSI is not available publicly for security reasons)

PSI 64/2011 - Management of prisoners at risk of harm to self, to others and from others (Safer Custody)

https://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/offenders/psipso/psi-2011/psi-64-2011-safer-custody.doc

Any local arrangements (protocols) for implementing these policies would not be published externally or otherwise made available to the Commons Library.

NOMS PSI 08/2010 "Post Incident Care" is currently under review; this review includes the role of Care Teams which are cited in the policy and the revision will make reference to the new Employee Assistance services (since October 2014) and Occupational Health services, which are available to all staff and managers. We anticipate that this review will be completed by the summer.

In addition to the publication of relevant PSIs, NOMS has internally published specific guidance for all staff and managers on the employee assistance services. There have also been a number of national internal intranet articles and guides published recently on managing wellbeing generally and in specific circumstances, directed to all staff.

NOMS has been through a lot of change in recent years. Staff wellbeing is important to NOMS and this year we are focusing on resources to enhance the mental and physical wellbeing of our staff, ensuring they are supported through this change.

Private Prisons:

The price paid for running private prisons does not include a breakdown of costs for training. Private prison contractors are required to provide training for both prisoners and staff in line with Prison Service Instructions (PSIs) and Prison Service Orders (PSOs) as part of their contracts.

Public Prisons:

The companies that were contracted to provide training for prisoners in the last five years are:

The companies that were contracted to provide training for staff in the last five years are:

Total spend for prisoners training:

Total spend for staff training:

Spend above includes all spend with each of the suppliers listed above so may include some elements that are not purely training. There is a reduction in the amount spent on prisoners training between 2011 and 2014. The majority of the money for prisoner training comes from European Social funding (ESF). There was an overlap in 11/12 of two rounds of ESF funding which is reflected as a higher amount in the annual totals. NOMS funding remained relatively stable throughout the period at around £5m.

The cost of much education in prisons falls to the Department of Business Innovation and Skills

I have interpreted your reference to “children's site at HM Young Offender Institution Feltham” as covering the juvenile facility holding under 18s of HMYOI Feltham.

We are not able to disaggregate staffing figures for the different facilities within HMYOI Feltham because staff are recorded across the establishment as a whole. However, I am happy to provide you with a link to the NOMS Quarterly Workforce Bulletins which include, in Table 10, information on the total number of prison officers at HMYOI Feltham. The latest version is as at 30 September 2014:

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-offender-management-service-workforce-statistics

The information requested could not be obtained within the timescale. I will write to the hon Member in due course.

The Ministry of Justice and National Offender Management Service do not hold this staffing information on prisons run by private contractors. However, the private contractors have been contacted with a request for this information. I do not have this at the current time, but when I do receive it, I will write to you again with further information.

It is a basic expectation of all prisons that they manage their staffing levels so that they are safe and able to provide appropriate custodial and other services.