Council takes on prison social care

BRIDGEND County Borough Council has announced it will take control of social care responsibilities for prisoners at HMP Parc.

The care for prisoners is currently provided by private company G4S Health Services, however with its contract due to end, the council has decided to take direct management for these responsibilities from next month.

While Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board will also take over the provision of all health services at HMP Parc, it cannot provide social care services as it is not a registered domiciliary care provider.

As the local authority is registered, it was considered by officers that council control of the service was the only viable option.

There may be potential for the health board employed workforce to deliver social care on behalf of integrated services in the future.

Further to a consultation, a number of existing G4S staff could now be transferred to council employment. Officers have also recommended that the new support team be based permanently within HMP Parc to meet the challenges they face.

One section of the proposal read: “The council is currently securing approximately 100 hours of care a week and are supporting prisoners with a diverse range of needs (eg dementia, Huntington’s disease, cancer).

“There are many challenges to providing care services in the prison environment that would not be the case in the community.

“For example, access to prisoners can be compromised by security priorities, and prison lock down.

“There are limited facilities to support people who are disabled and sick and there is not a separate hospital wing whereby prisoners who are particularly unwell or have high levels of need, can be constantly monitored.”