F.05 Self Care Units for Female Prisoners

Purpose

Self-Care Units are residential style accommodation for:

• Selected prisoners nearing release who have specific identified needs (reintegrative placement); or
• Eligible female prisoners with babies under the age of nine months (Mother and Child placement).

Self Care Units assist in the reintegration from prison to community by reducing the gap between the prison environment and the community. They contribute to the reduction of re-offending by increasing residents' general competence, personal responsibility and self-reliance before their release from prison.

For mothers with babies, the placement is intended to ensure that the mother and baby have an opportunity to bond with each other and that a relationship can be established pending the mother's release.

Internal and External Self Care Units

Internal Self Care Units are located in a residential zone within the secure perimeter of the prison. Internal Self Care Units are normally located in close proximity to the gatehouse or the single point entry and visits area.

External Self Care Units are located in a residential zone outside the secure perimeter of the prison. External Self Care Units are normally located so that they are not seen as part of the main prison complex, while at the same time being sufficiently close to ensure that they can be supported from the prison.

Service Outcome - Reintegrative Placement

Prisoners placed in Self Care Units for reintegrative purposes are able to:

• Find suitable and affordable accommodation for their release or parole; and
• Obtain suitable and sustainable occupational placements for their release or parole; and
• Demonstrate enhanced abilities in the key domestic skill areas of budgeting, household shopping, meal preparation, cleaning and laundry; and
• Demonstrate enhanced abilities in the key communication skill areas such as co-operative decision making and the ability to discuss and resolve issues and / or conflict constructively; and
• Demonstrate community networks that support their ongoing rehabilitation and reintegrative needs.

Service Outcome - Mother with Baby Placement

Prisoners placed in Self Care Units as mothers with baby are able to:

• Demonstrate the fostering of the mother-baby relationship; and
• Reduce the impact of the mother's imprisonment on the baby; and
• Contribute to reducing the likelihood of intergenerational criminality.

Service Delivery Measures - Reintegrative Placement

The key measures for determining service levels and for the Department's external reporting are:

• Unit Capacity (%); and
• Number (%) of prisoners achieving all the reintegrative objectives identified in their sentence plan.

Service Delivery Measures - Mother with Baby Placement

The key measures for determining service levels and for the Department's external reporting are:

• Number of prisoners with babies resident in Self Care Units.

Unit Capacity

Unit capacity is used to accommodate prisoners who meet the conditions for entry into the unit. However, on occasions when prison beds are in high demand, the Prison Manager may approve, on a case-by-case basis, the utilisation of unit capacity in Self Care Units for the accommodation of prisoners who do not meet the conditions for entry. Placement of such prisoners must not be at the expense of prisoners who meet the conditions for entry and must not compromise the reintegrative purposes of Self Care Units.

Who is eligible?

For reintegrative placement:

• Prisoners with two years or longer to serve.
• Prisoners that are in any category other than ‘Functional Support’.
• Prisoners with two or more reintegrative needs (applying RNA tool).
• Prisoners with no present or past sexual or violent offences involving children.

For ‘Mother and Child’ placement:

• Prisoners that are in any category other than ‘Functional Support’.
• Prisoners with no present or past sexual or violent offences involving children.
• Where the baby is less than nine months of age.
• Where placement is considered to be in the best interests of the child and has been approved by the Prison Manager.

Entry criteria

Applicants must meet the following criteria to reside in a Self Care Unit:

• Want to be placed in the Self Care Unit.
• Be non-IDU and have provided two clean samples in the three months prior to placement (if tests not available placement is at discretion of site management).
• No serious misconduct reports in previous six months.
• Not currently active in gang-related activities.
• Be classified and housed in minimum-security unit for at least three months (prisoners with babies may be classified higher, but must have Prison Manager’s approval).
• Have approximately 6-12 months remaining in sentence (not applicable to prisoners with babies).
• Have signed a contract agreeing to comply with rules of the unit.
• Have acknowledged that from time to time a baby may be in residence.

Retention criteria

To remain in the unit, prisoners must:

• Work actively towards achieving Sentence Plan objectives.
• Participate in all structured activities, courses and programmes.
• Submit to Urine Analysis testing as required.
• Comply with the terms of their Self Care Unit contract.
• Comply with the terms of the Parenting Agreement (prisoners with babies only).

Exit criteria

Prisoners will be removed from Self Care Units when:

• They voluntarily request to move out of the unit.
• Site management remove them for coping, safety or disciplinary reasons.
• They are released.
• They are paroled.

Prioritisation Scale for Internal SCUs

Prisoners should get priority for placement in internal Self Care Units in accordance with the scale below.

Prioritisation Scale for External SCUs

Prisoners should get priority for placement in external Self Care Units in accordance with the scale below.

Additional consideration in terms of prioritisation for placement in external Self Care Units should be given to prisoners already accommodated in internal Self Care Units.

• PS Sites with Self Care Units for Female prisoners will have ‘Local Procedures’ to instruct and assist staff working in these facilities.