Introduction
Communication involves staff actively sharing information, observations, impressions, and insights concerning prisoners on a regular and ongoing basis.
Critical points
There are critical points when this must occur. They are:
- between the PCO and case officer and other unit staff when the plan is initially received
- between the case officer and other staff that are involved in the management of that prisoner (this includes maintaining clear and meaningful file notes)
- recording incidents, prisoner attitude and conduct that have a bearing on the prisoner’s plan activities, and
- completing and passing on activity progress forms for use in plan reviews.
Positive or negative
Information that you share and record on the file notes of a prisoner can be positive or negative about that prisoner. The case officer can use these notes to:
- acknowledge a prisoner’s progress, where appropriate, or
- encourage the prisoner towards a better pattern of behaviour.
Examples:
- Positive evidence
A prisoner may have the activity “I will take part in constructive activities”. A note “spends time in the carving room and has recently completed another carving” is positive evidence of progress.
- Negative evidence
A prisoner may have the activity “I will stop using alcohol and drugs to that I can do a programme”. A positive drug test is negative evidence of progress.
