D.16.01 Feeding and Bonding Facilities (National Procedure)

Purpose

Feeding and bonding facilities are designated facilities for those prisoners who are ineligible or choose not to have their baby with them in full-time residence in a Self Care unit. The baby may still be brought into the prison daily for the purposes of feeding and bonding with the prisoner mother in a designated facility.

Eligibility Criteria

Any female prisoner:

• Sentenced by the court to a term of imprisonment
• Remanded by the court into custody (including prisoners held pursuant to the Immigration Act). If an accused prisoner is to be mixed with sentenced prisoners in a Unit that has feeding and bonding facilities, approval must be obtained from the Manager Service Support in National Office.

Entry Criteria

Female prisoners must meet the following requirements:

• Have a child under the age of nine months
• Be any PS Sentence Management category
• Have any security classification
• Sign an Agreement with the Prison Manager and nominated caregiver outlining the timing, frequency, rules and regulations associated with the visit.

Facilities

The facilities are a separate room and include:

• Access to a baby changing area
• Access to a breast pump for the purpose of expressing breast milk
• Access to a refrigerator
• Access to running water for washing hands and making drinks
• Access to toilet facilities
• Access to an outside area
• Comfortable seating for prisoner and caregiver(s)
• Suitable space and a cot for a child to sleep

Application and Agreement to Use Feeding and Bonding Facility

1. Prisoner mothers who are ineligible or choose not to have their baby with them in full-time residence in a Self Care Unit may apply to have their baby brought into the prison daily for the purposes of feeding and bonding by completing Application Form: Full Time Care of a Baby in a Self-care Unit or Part Time Care of a Baby with the use of Feeding and Bonding Facilities (F.06.F1).
2. A prisoner mother approved to use a feeding and bonding facility will be required to enter into an Agreement "Agreement pertaining to having use of a Feeding and Bonding Facility" (F.06.F3) and abide by the conditions set down in that Agreement.
3. The Agreement will cease when:
   • The prisoner is released or paroled
   • The baby reaches nine months of age,
   • In consultation with appropriate staff and external agencies it is deemed to be not in the best interests of the baby for visiting to continue. (Regulation 175(5).

Note: If a pregnant prisoner intends to apply to use a feeding and bonding facility it must be noted in their individual health care plan.

Retention Criteria

1. To retain access to feeding and bonding facilities prisoners must:
   • adhere to the Agreement signed in F.06.F3.
   • be drug and alcohol-free
   • obtain and maintain continued commitment from the caregiver to provide access to the baby.

Access to Breast Pumps

1. A prisoner mother approved to use feeding and bonding facilities must have 24-hour access to breast pumps for the purpose of expressing milk. This requires breast pumps and polystyrene chill bags for storage being available in feeding and bonding facilities during the day and in the prisoner’s cell at night.
2. Should the prisoner not meet the criteria to use the feeding and bonding facilities, arrangements to express milk and transportation of the milk to the baby will be arranged with the primary caregiver of the baby, or CYF, as the case may be.

Additional information

1. There are no Sentence Management or Security Classification restrictions on the system.
2. Female prisoners with babies nine months or under are eligible to apply to live in a Self Care Unit.

Local Procedures

• PS Sites with feeding and bonding facilities will have ‘Local Procedures’ to instruct and assist staff working in these facilities.