Scottish Prisons Assessment and Review of Outcomes for Women (SPAROW): exploratory baseline study

Chapter Four: Findings by Prison Climate Questionnaire (PCQ) Domains

Introduction

This Chapter discusses the baseline study findings in the context of the six prison climate domains. In each “Analysis by Domain” section, the findings are discussed by pre-move survey (women’s experiences of the prison climate whilst living in their older establishment^[13]), and post-move survey (women’s early experiences of prison climate whilst living in a Community Custody Unit).

Each section begins with a table that sets-out the mean scores of: the domain; each related theme; and each of the PCQ questions^[14] (see Annex Four for minor question wording amendments to the Prison Climate Questionnaire for the Scottish Context). An average mean score over 3 and nearer 5 reflects a more positive experience of prison climate, and an average mean score below 3 and nearer 1 reflects a more negative experience.

A discussion of the key themes women conveyed, where they wished to share more information on their experiences of the prison climate through written comments or qualitative discussion, is included at the end of each “Analysis by Domain” section.

Domain One: Relationships in Prison

Table Eight shows the mean scores across Domain One: Relationships in Prison.

Overall, while the mean scores for Domain One are positive (above 3) in both pre- and post-move responses, women’s relationships in prison whilst living in a CCU score higher (4.64) than their relationships in older establishments (3.48).

In particular, staff explaining their decisions was viewed less positively in an older establishment (2.94) compared to a CCU (4.48). Whereas women getting along with most fellow women was viewed very positively both in an older establishment (4.29) and in a CCU (4.70).

Table Eight: Domain One: Relationships in Prison

Domain items	Pre-move mean (n=34)	Post-move mean (n=23)
Overall Domain One: Relationships in Prison	3.48	4.64
Prisoner Relationships Questions	3.44	4.57
A1. The women treat each other respectfully here	3.12	4.48
A2. New women here are quickly accepted into the group	3.09	4.57
A3. Women here are considerate of each other	3.12	4.52
A4. I get along with most fellow women	4.29	4.70
A5. Women here help and support each other	3.59	4.61
Staff-Prisoner Relationships Questions	3.62	4.73
A6. If I have problems, the staff members in my hall help me	3.53	4.57
A7. The staff members in my hall explain their decisions to me	3.79	4.87
A8. The staff members in this hall treat me with respect	3.91	4.70
A9. The staff members in this hall give me a chance to express my views before they make decisions	3.24	4.78
Procedural Justice Questions	3.38	4.64
A10. The staff members in my hall treat me fairly	3.76	4.83
A11. The staff members in my hall explain their decisions to me	2.94	4.48
A12. The staff members in this hall treat me with respect	3.71	4.83
A13. The staff members in this hall give me a chance to express my views before they make decisions	3.09	4.43

Qualitative Discussion/Comments

Prisoner relationships - pre-move Survey

Thirteen women shared more on their relationship experiences with fellow women in their older establishment, and the key theme that emerged was that relationships “depends on women.”

The common theme conveyed was that relationships with fellow women depended on individual personalities, for example: “it depends on the person…some women treat each other respectfully and some don’t.” Despite this, they said they got along with most of their fellow women.

A small number of women shared more on their negative experiences. Four women talked about “bullying” they had experienced personally or witnessed, such as: women shouting at them and over each other; women fighting; and women doubling up and bullying each other. Although the majority of women did not report negatively, these are concerning experiences shared, which were difficult to contextualise and unpack through the baseline study methodology and time period.

Prisoner relationships - post-move Survey

Seven women shared more on their experiences of their relationships with fellow women in a Community Custody Unit.

Getting along

Women were positive overall about their relationships with other women in a Community Custody Unit (CCU), conveying they all got along and looked out for each other. They talked about doing things together, such as coffee mornings and cooking meals together. One woman mentioned when they arrived at the CCU, the other women made a meal to make them feel welcome and help them move in.

Positive feelings

Positive feelings was another common theme conveyed; feeling valued, welcomed, and supported were feelings expressed, for example:

“Women are all different but we all value each other…we gel together and support each other.”

“Women make everyone feel welcome. Good group of women here. Everyone is supportive. In closed [older establishment] people can be bitter if you are moving on, but not here. In closed you get big characters, top dogs, not like that at all here [CCU], just the girls.”

“If somebody is down, you get them up to the hub and distract them, play pool, karaoke, blether, have a cuppa.”

Not getting along

That said, two women did talk about times where they did not get along with women they were living with because of personality differences. They said that staff were supportive in trying to help mediate and resolve differences, however, moving to a different house, they said had worked out better for them. However, one woman said at the time of the baseline study, she wanted to move back to her older establishment.

Staff-prisoner relationships pre-move survey

Fifteen women shared more on their relationship experiences with staff members in an older establishment after the staff-prisoner relationships and procedural justice questions.

Although most women did not report negative experiences with a staff member in their older establishment, women tended to share more if they had more negative than positive experiences. The more negative experiences women reported were difficult to contextualise and explain. Further exploration would be needed to look at more in-depth with women and staff members.

Depends on staff member

As with relationships with fellow women, the common theme conveyed by most women was that relationships with staff depended on individual personalities, for example:

“Some staff members help you if you have a problem and some don’t do anything. Depends on the staff member…Some staff members treat you with respect and some don’t. They are not all the same. Depends on staff member. Some care, some don’t.”

One woman commented that staff members in her older establishment were always helpful to her, she said:

“Prison officers in [older establishment] were amazing, they got me through so much and I am very grateful for that part of my sentence…they helped me through my tag [home detention curfew papers], they processed the papers without me asking, I could not have got through it without them.”

Seven women talked about their personal officers (PO), and conveyed more negative experiences. From their perspectives they felt that their PO did not go out of their way to support and help them, they did not speak to them or if they did, nothing was progressed or happened as a result. Women shared that this caused them anxiety over approaching staff for help, for example like applying for Special Escorted Leave (SEL).

After the procedural justice questions, four women conveyed from their experience in their older establishment, some staff may treat them fairly and with respect, whilst others, they felt, do not; and, some staff may explain their decisions whilst others, they felt, do not, for example:

• “Some staff are spot on and some staff are rude, and dinnae bother.”
• “Some staff give a damn and others don’t…they just laugh at you.”
• “Staff don’t explain anything to you, if there is no rec [recreation] there is no rec, they don’t explain why, just that you are not having it.”
• “The staff don’t tell you if there are any activities going on. The staff don’t explain things, they just do things, and then we wonder what is going on because they don’t explain anything.”

One woman positively commented that she felt respected because “I am an older woman.” And, one woman who responded neutrally to the survey questions commented: “it is prison after all.”

Pressure on staff

Although relationships with staff could be varied, two women acknowledged the pressure staff were under. For example, they felt that sometimes staff in their older establishment did not have enough time to help and support them, because the prisons they were living in did not have enough staff to help and support them, and meet the needs of every woman living there.

Staff-prisoner relationships post-move survey

Eleven women shared more on their relationship experiences with staff members in a CCU.

Supported and valued

The common theme conveyed was that women felt staff in the CCUs supported and encouraged them more, listened to them more, and were more approachable than staff in their older establishment, for example:

“Staff are rooting for you here. They want to help you more than in [older establishment]. In [older establishment] you are treated like a prisoner, here [CCU] you are treated as a person, as an individual.”

“You have a voice here and you are heard. It is so different as night and day from closed conditions [older establishment]. You are treated as an equal here [CCU], with total respect.”

“If you have any problems you can sit down and talk with them [CCU staff] and they help you.”

In one CCU, at Christmas and New Year, one woman conveyed how they enjoyed sitting as “one big family” in the hub to eat, expressing:

“at Christmas and New Year we sat as one big family…it was amazing staff and girls.”

Two women further expressed they felt more valued by staff in the CCUs, compared to their older establishment; being valued as an individual, rather than as a prisoner. For example:

“The staff are fantastic, they value what you are saying, they value what you feel. If you have got something on your mind just go to the staff.”

Depends on staff member

Four women who responded neutrally or disagreed to the survey questions, similarly to living in their older establishment, said they felt they could talk to some staff members and not others, so it depends on the staff member. Three of these women made further comments following the procedural justice questions on communication on decision-making (see below).

Thirteen women talked about their relationships with their personal officers. Seven women were positive about their personal officers (POs), they said their POs were, for example:

• “hands on” and encouraging them and providing them with “proper guidance and support,” and “sticking their neck out” for them (4 women)
• helping them to “tap into” new skills for their personal progression and, helping them with everything (2 women)
• straight talking and had organised a weekly plan about their work placement and family visits on SEL (1 woman).

However, six women conveyed more negative experiences about their personal officers, mainly that they did not feel supported. In particular, two women said that their personal officers were not always available; one woman said this was because their personal officer was off sick all the time, and one woman said this was because of work shift patterns. They both said when their personal officers were not available they did work with different officers, but the approaches of different officers were not always consistent in their experience, as one woman noted:

“…there is different staff, different shifts, different ways of dealing with things, it should all be the same.”

Communication on decision-making

One woman said that she was concerned that nobody had spoken to her about the processes associated with her release from prison and what to expect, and she did not know why. Another woman was concerned that her forms [paperwork] for release were not completed and she did not know what was happening as the forms were “being bounced about” between her older establishment and the CCU.

Similarly, another woman was concerned that while CCU staff were approachable and helpful, decisions around community access, leave and medical appointments were “out of their hands”. She expressed her frustration that decisions were being made elsewhere in the prison estate.

During a spontaneous^[15] group discussion in one CCU, five women (including the woman above) further conveyed their frustrations in the context of decision-making; they emphasised the disconnect they felt around decision-making on their lives, because they believed that decisions were not clearly communicated or explained to them, as follows:

• They did not understand why decisions on for example, community access, were not made by the CCU staff who know them. They suggested that decision-making on their lives should be made locally, and not be made from afar through the formal risk management process.
• Women talked about three instances where applications for community access had not been approved through the formal risk management processes, and they did not fully understand why.

In the group discussion women also talked about drug testing, and their frustrations around test results; and these decisions not being fully explained to them. The women said they had recent drugs tests which had returned positive results. They believed the positive results were due to their prescription medication, and not illegal contraband. They said some of their community access and visits had been stopped because of these positive tests; one woman stated: “We are still being punished because of the positive drug test.”

Within the timeframe and method of the baseline study it was not possible to explore the complexities of the circumstances shared by participants, to fully unpack and explore in-depth decision-making process with the women involved and corroborate with staff, older establishments and the CCUs.

Summary – Domain One: Relationships in Prison

Overall the findings show that women were more positive about their relationships with fellow women in the CCUs than with their fellow women in their older establishment. Although, women were positive they get along with most fellow women in their older establishment and in the CCU.

Women were also more positive about their relationships with staff in the CCUs than with staff in their older establishment. They were more positive about staff treating them fairly and respectfully, and explaining their decisions to them in the CCUs, than about staff doing so in their older establishment. But inconsistencies in staff approaches were evident in pre- and post-move responses.

Lack of communication on decisions emerged as a frustration throughout the baseline study for a number of women. The findings highlight a potential disconnect between policy and practice, and suggest that decision-making processes could be made more transparent and inclusive to ensure women are fully informed and involved in decisions made on their lives. This may help to ensure women are provided with all the information required to support their understanding of decision-making processes, and evidence submitted and discussed (without them present), to reach decisions about them.

Domain Two: Safety and Order

Table Nine shows the mean scores across Domain Two^[16]. While the overall mean scores are positive in both pre- and post-move responses, women scored higher on their safety and order experiences living in a CCU (4.73) compared to older establishments (3.76).

Table Nine: Domain Two: Safety and Order

Domain items	Pre-move mean (n=34)	Post-move mean (n=23)
Overall Domain Two: Safety and Order	3.76	4.73
Safety and Order Questions	3.76	4.73
A33. I feel unsafe in this establishment	3.68	4.74
A34. I sometimes feel threatened by fellow women here	3.62	4.65
A35. There are places in this establishment where I feel unsafe	3.74	4.78
A36. I am afraid of some fellow women here	3.82	4.70
A37. I am afraid of some staff members in this hall	3.97	4.78

Qualitative Discussion/Comments

The key finding is that most women in their older establishment and in a CCU experienced a positive experience of safety and order – they felt safe.

A small number of participants commented and shared experiences more through qualitative discussion. In the pre-move survey, five women shared more about their experiences of feeling unsafe in their older establishment, and four women shared more on their experiences in a Community Custody Unit (post-move survey).

Safety and order pre-move survey

The five women who said they felt unsafe living in their older establishment said they felt “on edge” and “threatened” by some fellow women, conveying: “you have to keep your wits about you” and, “some women are rough and scary.” Two women particularly said they felt unsafe because of other women’s mental health conditions; when they “kicked off”, or “flipped” because of their mental health conditions.

One woman felt unsafe due to perceiving the behaviour of women and staff as aggressive, and witnessing drug use by women in custody. Another woman talked about having been “mocked” by a staff member.

In the timeframe of the baseline study it was not possible to explore these situations fully and it is therefore hard to interpret these specific experiences. To contextualise experiences, further in-depth exploration would be required with women in custody and staff members, to delve deeper, and understand the intricacies and complexity of these situations.

Safety and order post-move survey

As noted above, women who participated in the post-move survey, predominantly agreed they felt safe. However, a small number of women (four) reported feeling unsafe in their homes due to incidents with other women they were living with. Or, that they initially felt unsafe because before moving to a CCU they knew of women living there who they did not wish to share a house with [they did not end up sharing a house].

Women acknowledged staff tried to support them and resolve issues through mediation and/or moving women into different houses. Where women said they just could not get on with each other, moving to a different house in the CCU was considered an appropriate option, although one woman conveyed, at the time of the survey, her preference would be to move back to closed conditions [older establishment].

Summary – Safety and Order

The key finding is that most women felt safe living in their older establishment and in a CCU. However, women in their older establishment did report particular situations of feeling unsafe because of a woman or a staff member’s behaviour that were not possible to explore and unpack through the baseline survey methodology and timeframe. These experiences have been reported here to respect and reflect what a small number of women shared at the time of the baseline study.

Domain Three: Contacts with Outside World

Table Ten shows the overall mean scores across Domain Three. Overall, participants scored substantially higher on contact experiences whilst living in a CCU (4.77) compared to experiences living in an older establishment (2.98).

The difference in mean scores in pre- and post-surveys was greatest on satisfaction with visits (CCU at 4.76, older establishment at 2.85), satisfaction with the frequency of contacts (CCU at 4.79, older establishment at 3.28), and having sufficient privacy during visits (CCU at 4.48, older establishment at 1.83).

On satisfaction with frequency of contacts the mean scores across the PCQ questions were all positive (above 3) in responses to the pre- and post-move survey, however the pre-move survey mean scores were just above 3 (3.03-3.48) and the post-move mean scores were all nearer 5 (4.69 to 4.86).

Table Ten: Domain Three: Contacts with the Outside World^[17]

Domain items	Pre-move mean (n=34)	Post-move mean (n=23)
Overall Domain Three: Contacts with Outside World	2.98	4.77
Satisfaction with Visits Questions	2.85	4.76
D18. The visiting room in this establishment is pleasant	2.70	4.83
D19. My visitor and I can have enough physical contact (for example, give each other a hug)	2.34	4.91
D20. The visiting hours in this establishment are long enough	2.31	4.91
D21. I have sufficient privacy during visiting hours (privacy means that you can easily talk without others overhearing your conversation)	1.83	4.48
D22. The staff members in this establishment treat my visitors nicely	3.34	4.76
D23. The visiting hours in this establishment are frequent enough	2.83	4.86
D24. I enjoy receiving visits	3.93	4.70
D25. After receiving a visitor, I feel good	3.64	4.64
Satisfaction with Frequency of Contact	3.28	4.79
D7. …I can see my family, friends or partner here	3.30	4.86
D8. …I can see my child(ren) here	3.03	4.80
D9. …I can see my lawyer here	3.48	4.69

Qualitative Discussion/Comments

Contacts with the outside world pre-move survey

Twenty-one women shared various experiences of their visits and contacts, focused on the key themes below.

Environment, time and distance

Six women said that they did not wish their families, and particularly their children, to visit them in their older establishment because they did not want their families to see them “in jail”; they felt that the prison environment was “no place for them.” Two women shared that they did not have visits because their family relationships had broken down because of their imprisonment, and their families did not wish to visit them in prison.

Seven women said that the allowed visiting time [they mentioned 45 minutes] was not a long enough time for them to spend quality time with their visitors (families and children). Three women said that they did not receive many visits because their families lived too far away to be able to visit them regularly. One woman commented that they thought more virtual visits should be offered, particularly for people who were not able to have in-person visits.

Privacy

Five women discussed their feelings and experiences of privacy during visits in their older establishment. They said they struggled with the lack of privacy they experienced during visits with their families and children; they said they felt uncomfortable and unable to relax, believing that staff were “watching” them, and “listening into conversations,” and/or they found visits hard and upsetting because of the lack of physical contact allowed (i.e. not being allowed to hug a family member/children).

Not feeling good after a visit

Eleven women said they did not enjoy receiving visits, or they did not feel good after a visit in their older establishment, for the following reasons:

• because of the body searches they said they had been subjected to following a visit, and did not know why, which was perceived as degrading treatment (8 women)
• because they felt sad and stressed after a visit as they watched their loved ones leave (two women), for example: “I can be upset after visits sometimes being left in here”
• because “staff are terrible towards prisoners and visitors” (one woman).

The Scottish Government commissioned literature review on: “Understanding Family Support Needs of People in Prison Custody” (see Diffley Partnership and KSO Research 2025), also evidences the above issues experienced by women in the baseline pre-move survey responses. The literature review recommends expanding child-friendly visiting spaces and enhancing the use of digital technology, which is evident in the CCU environment from the baseline post-move responses.

Contacts with the outside world post-move survey

Sixteen women shared more about their experiences of visits and contact whilst living in a Community Custody Unit, focused on the key themes below.

Frequency of contact

Most of the sixteen women who provided further comments were overall positive about the opportunity to have visits every-day and for as long as they wished in person at the CCU and virtually, for example one woman commented: “I can see my family tomorrow if I want.” Three women particularly commented that the availability of virtual visits allowed them to see their family and children more frequently, especially where they lived far away from the CCU.

Enjoyment of visits

Five women said that they enjoyed visits more compared to their older establishment, as they could be more of a family (particularly with their children). They could cook a meal, make tea or coffee, bake cakes, watch films, TV, read books and do jigsaws, for example with their children, family, and friends. Three women particularly commented on the garden area outside the hub where they enjoyed sitting outside with their visitors. One woman particularly commented about being able to cuddle family visitors without being told off by staff, she said: “You can have a cuddle here [CCU]…without being told off or shouted at by staff [as they had said they had experienced in their older establishment].”

Privacy

While there are security/surveillance cameras installed in the CCUs^[18], women said they experienced their visits as more private in the CCUs compared to their older establishment.

Although women overall agreed they experienced more privacy during visits in a CCU compared to in their older establishment, six women commented that privacy during visits could sometimes become an issue if there was a number of women having visits at the same time in the hub; the hub can become overcrowded/busy. Virtual visits also take place in the hub, which means there can be less privacy for these too, if the hub is busy. The hub also becomes busier if there are activities on at the same time as visits, resulting in less space available for visits. Further, staff and women come in and out of the hub area during visits. However, women did comment, they were mindful and considerate of each other to arrange visits at different times, to enable some level of privacy during visits.

Staff

Women overall agreed staff in the CCUs treated their visitors nicely, compared to their older establishments where they felt staff were always watching them and their families during visits, and listening into their conversations. Three women conveyed:

• “Staff made my visits amazing, everything was perfect.”
• “Staff are amazing with my family, they make an effort.”
• “The staff come in and out but they are not interested compared to closed conditions [older establishment]. Different here [in the CCU] even the way they talk to your family - the staff come in and out and ask how your visitors are”

Issues: distance and decisions

Four women in the CCUs mentioned particular issues they experienced. Two women mentioned distance as an issue, that their family lived too far away to visit them in the CCU, however they said they were happy with the virtual visits they were able to have. One woman commented that she did not understand a SEL decision that allowed her to visit her family elsewhere outside, rather than at her home. She said that her family members had to travel for one hour and pay expensive travel costs to meet with her. Another woman commented that she would like home visits to spend time with an ill family member, however, this family member did not know she was in custody, and visiting home with two officers in uniform she felt would be too intrusive.

Other family relationship challenges remained as well. One woman said that she did not have a lot of visits as she did not want to stress her children out, and that although she often felt good after a visit, when her visitors left she did not feel good, she said: “I feel ooof.” Another woman shared that she did not have visits because she had only recently started to re-build relationships with her family, but that she hoped to have visits in the future.

Summary – Contacts with the Outside World

Overall, women felt more satisfied with visits they experienced in a CCU, compared to the visits they experienced in an older establishment. Women also felt more satisfied with the frequency of visits they received in a CCU, compared to the frequency of visits they received in an older establishment.

In an older establishment the key issues reported were the visiting room environment and lack of physical contact and privacy (“staff watching and listening-in”), which impacted negatively on visit experiences. Further, restricted/short visiting times and distance and cost of travel to visit were also issues reported. Women also reported body searches following visits that they experienced as degrading.

The frequency and flexibility to have visits every-day made for a better visiting experience in a CCU, as did the “pleasant”/“lovely hub” area and garden space to enjoy visits.

Experiences were also enhanced because women were able to do regular activities such as cook meals, bake, drink tea/coffee with visitors and play with their children. Spending time with visitors without staff watching and listening in, and being able to cuddle visitors was valued by women. Distance - family and friends being too far away to visit - was also an issue reported, but was alleviated sometimes in the CCU by flexible virtual visit opportunities.

Domain Four: Facilities

Table Eleven shows the overall mean scores across Domain Four^[19]. Overall, participants scored higher on facilities whilst living in a CCU (3.46) compared to living in an older establishment (2.62).

In responses to Domain Four, sleep quality experience scored substantially higher in a CCU than in an older establishment (respectively 4.36 and 2.10), as did quality of care (respectively 4.08 and 2.81), and shop quality (respectively 4.26 and 2.69).

In the context of the “Quality of Care” questions, Chapter Two highlights that most women who participated in the baseline study reported they had a health condition or illness^[20].

Only women who had raised a complaint answered the settlement of complaints questions. Although women responded more positively that Independent Prison Monitors were more visible in a CCU than in their older establishment (respectively 4.33 and 2.72); of those women who had raised complaints the mean scores reflect negative feedback in both the CCU and the older establishment (respectively 2.83 and 2.56) on the way they believed their complaint was handled.

Table Eleven: Domain Four: Facilities^[21]

Domain items	Pre-move mean (n=34)	Post-move mean (n=23)
Overall Domain Four: Facilities	2.62	3.46
Sleep Quality	2.10	4.36
B17. My sleep is often restless in this establishment (for example, because you wake up often)	2.09	3.83
B18. My sleep is often disturbed in this establishment (for example, because you are often awake at night because of too much noise)	2.26	4.57
B19. Due to poor conditions in this establishment and/ or my cell, I can’t sleep well (think, for example, of the mattress or the temperature)	1.94	4.70
Quality of Care	2.81	4.08
A19. I can get medical care here if I want to	2.97	4.13
A20. Health problems are being taken care of adequately here	2.65	4.00
A21. I am satisfied with the work of the nursing staff	2.94	4.35
A22. I am satisfied with the work of the doctors	2.50	3.76
A23. I am satisfied with the dental care	3.18	4.00
A24. I am satisfied with the psychology and mental health staff	2.65	4.08
Shop Quality	2.69	4.26
B21. I am satisfied with the range of products in the shop	2.32	4.30
B22. The products in the shop are affordable (not too expensive)	2.74	4.26
B23. I am satisfied with the quality of the products in the shop	3.00	4.22
Settlement of Complaints	2.79	3.63
A15. The Independent Prison Monitors (IPMs) are easily accessible	2.72	4.33
A16. Staff took my complaint seriously	3.11	3.67
A17. The handling of my complaint was fast enough	2.78	3.67
A18. I am satisfied with the way my complaint was handled	2.56	2.83

Qualitative Discussion/Comments

Facilities pre-move survey

Seventeen women commented further on their sleep quality experiences whilst living in an older establishment; twenty-four women commented further on their experiences of the quality of care they received; twenty-one women commented further on their shop and food quality experiences; and, thirteen women in the pre-move survey said they had submitted a complaint. The key themes that emerged for each are discussed below.

Sleep Quality - disturbances

Ten women said they experienced poor sleep quality in their older establishment due to uncomfortable mattresses, beds, and pillows.

Seven women said that the noise of other women shouting, banging and screaming often disturbed their sleep, and three women said that the noise of staff on night patrol disturbed their sleep too. One woman commented: “the noise is a nightmare”.

Women gave a variety of other reasons for poor sleep quality, as follows:

• having no fresh air and poor heating/radiators (too hot) and ventilation (i.e. no/small windows) (6 women)
• poor conditions of cells (3 women)
• being locked up (3 women)
• equipment/bedding not provided to support a health condition (1 woman)
• boredom (1 woman)
• bins being underneath cell window (1 woman)
• menopause (1 woman).

Quality of Care – access and waiting times

Women (16) who were not satisfied with the quality of care they received, reported dissatisfaction with lack of access or long waiting times for healthcare professionals (doctor, nurse, dentist or mental health nurse/psychologist).

In relation to medication, five women said they did not receive the right medication for their specific conditions, and three women said that they did not receive their medication on time. For example, one woman said:

“I am in constant pain because of [condition], they do not get the right medication to you…I feel let down by the health care, I don’t get the right meds even though I am in pain.”

Feedback on quality of care was mixed. Six women were expressive about the poor quality of health care provision in their older establishment, expressing in written comments, the health care to be: “shocking”, “not good at all”, “very poor”, or “terrible.”

In contrast however, four women commented that they received good nursing care and mental health care in their older establishment. For example, one woman said she had a medication plan in place with the mental health staff who see her regularly, particularly if she is struggling. Another woman mentioned that she saw a nurse straight away after going over her ankle. Two women commented that “the nurses are really good” and “the mental health nurse is quick to see you.”

Shop Quality – lack of quality

Women who were not satisfied with the shop quality, or neither agreed nor disagreed to the survey questions, commonly commented that there was a lack of choice, the shop did not provide what they needed, and the products were too expensive.

One woman, living in a mixed establishment, said the products on the shop sheet were mainly for men, and women were not thought about. She said:

“The shop sheet is all for guys. We do not get women’s toiletries. We have to use men’s shower gel and Lynx so walk around smelling like a guy, I don’t want to smell like a guy.”

Food – poor quality

Overall, most women who shared more about their experiences commented that meals were constantly the same and not healthy and full of carbs; and, the food was of very poor quality and standard. Words expressively written to describe the poor quality of food included: “disgusting”, “rubbish”, “terrible.”

Women expressed they had no choice in the food they ate. One woman commented there was no food prepared for her specific health condition.

Women said there are microwaves, toasters and kettles in the halls/cells to prepare ready meals, noodles, pasta and baked potatoes for example, but they expressed: “it is not a meal really.”

Complaints

The thirteen women who said they had submitted a complaint, had done so for various reasons, as follows:

• not having access to a mobile phone when others did
• the poor quality of food
• the lack of/or poor health care they received and medication
• not having a job for a number of weeks
• treatment by a staff member
• stolen laundry
• items testing positive for drugs
• having to move to another establishment to undertake programmes, when they felt they did not need to.

Two women in one establishment particularly commented on their items such as family photos, mail and unopened packages testing positive for drugs, and then being destroyed.

Five women who said their complaint was not taken seriously or handled properly, said this was because they felt nothing was done; that staff did not take their complaint seriously.

Four women commented on the Independent Prison Monitors (IPMs). Three women said that they were not aware of the IPMs, had not heard of them or that they were not visible. One woman said she would run away from the IPMs if she saw them [because she did not trust them]. However, one woman commented that the IPMs helped with her healthcare complaint.

Three women said they wanted to complain, but they did not feel safe to complain as they said they thought that some staff discuss with each other who complains, so they would not feel anonymous if they did complain. From their perspective they thought staff would make it difficult for them if they complained.

Overall, in the timeframe of the baseline study, it was not possible to explore the complexities of the more negative experiences women shared. Further, on complaints (in an older establishment and a CCU (see below)), the findings highlight a possible inconsistency in policy practice and reality for women, and that formal complaints processes would perhaps benefit from clearer transparency, communication and inclusivity throughout the process.

Facilities post-move survey

Thirteen women further commented on their sleep quality experiences whilst living in a CCU; sixteen women commented further on their quality of care experiences; and, eleven women commented further on the quality of the products and food they could shop for whilst living in a CCU. Five women said they had submitted a complaint whilst living in a CCU.

Sleep Quality – sleeping well

Overall women commented on: “the lovely new facilities,” and the high standard and quality of their homes that helped them to sleep well. Women reflected they slept well because they had their own room, they had a double bed, a proper mattress and their own new shower (i.e. could shower before bed). For example:

• “Makes me feel more at home.”
• “[CCU] is great 5 star housing.”
• “It is lovely, peaceful and quiet.”
• “I like I have my own space, my own room.”

Five women commented that their sleep could be restless or disturbed, but that this was not due to the facilities, the CCU environment or anyone, but because of their anxiety or mental health or because of being hungry (but they could go to the fridge for food unlike in their older establishment).

One woman was distressed about her poor quality of sleep because of pain and discomfort related to a health condition, and reported that she was not being provided with the equipment she needed.

Quality of Care – mixed: good and not so good

Ten women commented positively on the care they could access and receive in a CCU, and expressed that the health and mental health care was better in a CCU than in their older establishment. They said this was because they had been able to see a doctor, nurse or mental health specialist with ease, and they had received the support and medication they needed.

Overall, women commonly expressed:

• “The nursing is great…Psychologist is amazing.”
• “The healthcare is incredible here, it is a dream compared to [older establishment] and outside…I cannot sing the praises high enough of the medical team.”
• “You can see the nurse every-day.”
• “Health care is instant, health care is good.”

However, six women conveyed they were unhappy with the care they could access and receive; they said they could not see a doctor, or they were not receiving the health care, medication or support they expected and needed for their physical or mental health condition. They were expecting an improvement in their care and support in a CCU. One woman said there was no well-women health care and support.

In particular, one woman shared she was in a lot of pain because she was not receiving the treatment or medication she needed for her long-term injury. She felt the nurse was not present in the CCU every-day and she was not being listened to. She felt she was better taken care of and listened to in her older establishment.

Another woman was diagnosed with a condition whilst in the CCU and she felt this condition was not discussed or explained to her face-to-face, but over the phone with the doctor. She found being told of this condition very difficult to deal with, and to understand how to live with [she was due to be liberated]. She expressed her anxiety about not knowing what she would be facing when she left the CCU.

Another woman commented they were not receiving the mental health support they had expected and needed in the CCU, even although they had submitted a mental health care slip before they moved to the CCU.

In the timeframe of the baseline study and the method utilised, it was difficult to unpack the complexities of the more negative experiences women had in relation to their care experiences; and what care women expected in a CCU compared to their older establishment. On the latter, women’s experiences discussed above do provide some insights, in that they expected better access to healthcare, medical staff, and medication; and, an overall better care experience in a CCU compared to their older establishment.

Shop and Food Quality – positive, but community access

At the time of the study fieldwork, women living in the CCUs bought their food via online supermarket shopping. Women did say the food they could buy was affordable, but they were frustrated they could not access the rewards scheme to be able to access price deals. One woman expressed frustration of the “rig ma roll” of having to sit with staff every week to do the shopping list, even although she bought the same food every week. Women did not have access to a computer in the CCUs to do their own shopping lists/orders.

Although women were positive about shop quality and receiving £40 per week to food shop online, two women were less positive because of the lack of community access to go out of the CCU to do their own food shopping. For example, one said:

“You cannot go out to shop…Going out to buy food is ideal, that is what we were sold about living here [in the CCU] being able to go outside.”

As noted in Chapter One, the CCUs were designed to support the needs of women who would benefit from closer community contact and access to local services to support living independently and community re-integration on release (SPS 2021). Women were aware of this. Therefore, on moving to a CCU women expected to have access to the local community for shopping, and for this to not be forthcoming emerged as a point of contention. The findings indicate that clearer communication and information sharing on community access decision-making processes could help alleviate any contentions, for example sharing with women when to expect community access once they have moved to a CCU, and what has to be undertaken to achieve community access (i.e. it is not ‘automatic’ on a move to a CCU).

Food - enjoying

Three women particularly talked about cooking and shopping together, and enjoying being able to cook their food from scratch and eating healthier. They said they were enjoying learning how to cook for themselves and their kids when they visited.

Complaints

The five women who said they had submitted a complaint shared they did so for various reasons, as follows:

• no adequate gym facilities in the CCU (compared to their older establishment] or space to run
• lack of organisations delivering services in the CCUs
• heating [faulty thermostat].

One woman reported: “the IPMs don’t really do anything…They come for a wee jaunt.” She felt even when women talk to the IPMs they don’t do anything; another women reflected this too, conveying after speaking to the IPMs and staff, she felt her complaint was just “brushed under the table” and not dealt with.

One woman expressed that she was worried to complain; she perceived that making any complaints would somehow go against her in relation to progression and release.

Summary - Facilities

Overall women had more positive experiences of the quality of facilities (sleep quality, quality of care, shop/food quality) whilst living in a CCU, compared to experiences in an older establishment. Women reported more discomfort/lack of quality in their older establishment in relation to cells, mattresses and bedding, and noise. Access to health professionals and waiting times were also raised as concerns by some women in the pre- and post-move surveys, although others expressed high levels of satisfaction with health care provided to them. Lack of choice and quality of products on the canteen sheet, and poor quality meals also made for less positive experiences in older establishments.

In the CCUs, the high standard of modern accommodation/facilities (i.e. own home, bedroom and bathroom, kitchen) enabled women to sleep and eat well. The ability to online shop enabled choice and ability to cook more nutritious and healthy meals. However, lack of community access to shop in the community was raised as an issue.

Experiences of health care was mixed in a CCU, as women reported mixed experiences of whether they could see a medical professional timely and when needed, and whether medication was received on time.

Where complaints were raised and reported, participants expressed dissatisfaction with how these were handled in both older establishments and the CCUs. The findings highlight a possible inconsistency in policy practice and reality for women, and suggest that complaints processes may benefit from clearer transparency, communication and inclusivity.

The findings indicate that clearer communication and information sharing on community access decision-making processes could help alleviate any contentions, for example sharing with women when to expect community access once they have moved to a CCU, and what has to be undertaken to achieve community access (i.e. it is not ‘automatic’ on a move to a CCU).

Domain Five: Meaningful Activities

Table Twelve shows the overall mean scores across Domain Five. Overall, the mean scores for experiences of meaningful activities were higher in a CCU than in an older establishment (respectively 3.75 compared to 2.95).

On satisfaction with activities, the overall mean scores were similar in an older establishment and a CCU (respectively 3.24 and 3.69). The mean scores for satisfaction with outdoor time varied more between living in an older establishment and living in a CCU (respectively 2.76 and 4.48).

On availability of meaningful facilities, the overall mean scores were just slightly more positive in a CCU compared to living in an older establishment (respectively 3.35 compared to 2.56). In an older establishment the mean scores for these questions were below 3 (2.35 to 2.71), and for a CCU the mean scores were above 3 (3.09 to 3.57).

On re-integration, the overall mean scores were more positive for living in a CCU compared to living in an older establishment (respectively 4.31 compared to 2.82). In an older establishment the mean scores for these questions were 3 or below (3.03 to 2.70), and for a CCU the mean scores were above 4 (4.20 to 4.47).

Table Twelve: Meaningful Activities^[22]

Domain items	Pre-move mean (n=34)	Post-move mean (n=23)
Overall Domain Five: Meaningful Activities	2.95	3.75
Satisfaction with Activities	3.24	3.69
B1. I am satisfied with the recreation	2.79	3.87
B2. I am satisfied with the sports	2.88	3.13
B3. I am satisfied with the library	3.47	3.52
B4. I am satisfied with the opportunities to work	3.71	3.30
B5. I am satisfied with the education/ courses	3.24	3.48
B6. I am satisfied with the outdoor time	2.76	4.48
B7. I am satisfied with the pastoral care (for example: the imam, pastor, priest)	3.85	4.10
Availability of Meaningful Facilities	2.56	3.35
B8. This establishment delivers an interesting and varied daily timetable	2.35	3.30
B9. During the daily timetable I learn useful skills	2.64	3.57
B10. I have enough to do in this establishment	2.71	3.09
B11. The activities in the daily timetable help me to develop myself	2.53	3.43
Re-integration	2.82	4.31
B12. In this establishment, I can prepare well for my return to the community	2.77	4.29
B13. Staff members here encourage me to make plans for after release	2.77	4.47
B14. I can get extra support here to prepare for my return to the community	2.70	4.30
B15. In this establishment I learn things that will help me to stay away from crime after release	3.03	4.20

Qualitative Discussion/Comments

Meaningful activities pre-move survey

Twenty-six women commented further on their experiences of activities in their older establishment, and thirteen women commented on the daily timetable; seventeen women commented further on the support (or lack of) they received whilst living in their older establishment to prepare for the return to the community.

Outdoor time/Recreation – not satisfied

Seven women said they were not satisfied with the outdoor time/recreation because of the limited time they said they were allowed to be outside and the lack of control over the amount of time. One woman said that sometimes she only wanted to go outside for 20 minutes, but that if she went out they had to stay out for an hour, even if she only wanted to be out for 20 minutes; because of this she did not go outside.

Two women said that they did not go outside because they did not feel safe to go outside, because of other women, because of “fights”, because of “bitching” and because of “arguments” between women; also highlighted at Domain Two: Safety and Order.

Keeping Busy

Seven women particularly mentioned or wrote-down the various jobs they were employed in whilst living in their older establishment, such as: kitchen and cook, gardener, hairdresser, bio-cleaning, pantry, arts and crafts, reception, painters, cleaning, laundry and working on the “pass.” On the latter, having a “pass” to be out of a cell more, to clean for example the hall and tables, one woman said allowed her more time out of their cell, and to move more freely around their hall.

Ten women particularly mentioned the various courses they have undertaken whilst living in their older establishment, such as: SPS Ultimate Self^[23] programmes and life skills courses, cooking, food hygiene, first aid, trauma rehabilitation, Industrial and Bio-Hazard training, site safety training, health and safety, health and mental health courses, crotchet and arts and crafts, and IT. One woman was undertaking a University degree and, two women mentioned they had achieved education qualifications (SVQs and NAT5).

Further, three women who used the library were mainly positive about the books and DVDs available, because they said this help them to occupy their time. One woman wrote that the “priest is good,” and another woman suggested that more importance should be give to gym activities and faith-based events.

Overall, women who shared more on their experiences, conveyed work and courses kept them busy, and they liked to be busy as boredom can set-in.

Boredom

Participants said/wrote they were bored because of:

• limited outdoor/recreation time (as noted above) (7 women)
• limited opportunities to get involved in sport activities, and the gyms were small (2 women)
• limited work opportunities available, or that there were no opportunities to work, or there were “more jobs for guys to do”^[24] (4 women)
• not much on/no activities regularly on, to break up the days and weeks (9 women), and long waiting lists to join a course (4 women)
• no varied and interesting activities in the daily timetable, or if there were activities, these were the same activities every day, and every week (10 women)
• being “locked-up all the time^[25]” from their perspective, because of having nothing to do (3 women). For example, one woman commented:

“If you are not doing a course or working you are locked-up all the time. If you go outside you are just outside doing nothing on a big piece of grass. I have never seen such a depressing field in my life.”

Staff Capacity

Two women commented on staff capacity to be able to support the running of courses and activities in the older establishments they were living in. From these women’s perspectives, courses and activities stopped or had long waiting lists because there was not enough staff, to support the organisation and running of these; they acknowledged that staff tried their best (noted at Domain One on staff-prisoner relationships). One woman with a condition, particularly commented positively that staff helped her to participate in arts and crafts (supporting with equipment use), and accessing a health and safety course, that otherwise she felt she would not have been able to participate in.

Re-integration – CCU expectations

Nine women particularly commented that they felt they were getting no support or help, where they disagreed to the survey question that they could prepare for their return to the community. Four of these women said they were expecting to receive the support and help they needed to return to the community when they moved to a CCU because, from their perspective, that was what the CCUs were for. They believed that they had been assessed to move to a CCU to support and help their progression journey to be released. Three women said that they had previously been in custody and with no support on release had returned. One of these women in particular shared that she had returned to prison, because on release previously she had lost her house because of debt and ended up homeless, and sleeping on the streets for months.

Re-integration – Ultimate Self^[26]

Four women discussed that participating in the Ultimate Self programmes was helping them. One woman said the programmes had helped her learn things to help her stay away from crime, and learn about compassion, she said: “compassion for yourself and others…letting go, and not to keep punishing yourself all the time…and, thinking positively.”

Another woman said that Ultimate Self programmes are “about you, your crime, and helps you explore and understand these,” and mentioned specific programmes she had participated in: “Connection;” “Survive and Thrive;” “Alcohol;” and “Pathways.”

Another woman said that although she had participated in the Ultimate Self programmes to tick a box [for example for parole], she reflected that the programmes had really helped her: “I have done the Ultimate Self programme. At first I did it as a tick box but it really helped me with thinking patterns. I learned to ask for help and that this is a strength, not a weakness.”

One woman mentioned that she received extra support from her social worker who helped her to participate in Ultimate Self programmes, and to understand the prison risk management process.

Meaningful activities post-move survey

Twenty-three women commented further on their experiences of activities in a CCU, thirteen commented on the daily timetable, and seventeen women commented further on the support they received whilst living in a CCU to help them return to the community on release.

Gym

Seven women expressed their dissatisfaction with sport activities, particularly the gym in the CCUs. Women said there were no sport opportunities and the gym in the CCU was small, with limited facilities, compared to facilities available in their older establishment. One woman commented: “The gym is not good. If this was a guys facility they would have built the gym first and then the prison around the gym.”

Three women mentioned that they walked laps in the garden, however one woman commented she felt like “a hamster in a wheel” going round and round in a small space.

One woman said that staff in one CCU had contributed equipment^[27] (such as kettlebells) for the gym, and ran classes such as circuits outside in the garden, and in the CCU hallway; which they appreciated. However, they felt that the SPS should provide equipment, rather than individual members of staff taking on this responsibility themselves.

Work

Six women said they were not happy with the opportunities to work. Where women said they were dissatisfied with the opportunities to work, they said this was because there were limited opportunities for work parties, or no work parties in the CCUs. They said that the main job in the CCUs was cleaning the establishment, and with cleaning jobs split between women, work could take all of one hour. One woman did mention she worked front of house. However, there was a sense that there was more work opportunities in an older establishment than in a CCU, for example, one woman commented:

“in closed conditions we worked to keep the prison ticking over: washing, cleaning, cooking for the prison. Here [in the CCU] there is not much to do. There is not a lot of jobs in here [CCU].”

Four women who said there was not enough work, said this could be resolved if work opportunities were arranged in the community, and approved community access was forthcoming for women to take-up such work opportunities.

However, one woman who had an approved work placement in the community was “loving my work”, and making the most of the opportunity to gain new skills.

Community access

Lack of community access was a key frustration conveyed by six women. Women said that they did not understand why they could not access the community to go to a local gym, or out for a run, or out to a community organisation to volunteer, or out to work or participate in a recreational activity.

One woman said that sport and running was very important for her mental health, and that the lack of access she had to gym/sport facilities was negatively affecting her mental health. She said from her perspective the lack of approval for her to have community access was setting her up to ‘fail’.

On recreational activities, two women in one CCU referred to the lack of community access, and thought recreational group trips to local interesting places, museums or parks would be better for their mental health and well-being. For example:

“We cannot go out into the community together. We could be going to the beach together, to Dundee Rep, to the V&A, this would all help with building relationships, and what you would do outside…You are fit to go out and they [risk management team] are afraid to let you out.”

Education (Courses)/Library – mixed experiences

Where women had undertaken courses from the CCU they were positive about their experiences on the courses they had participated in(8 women), such as: understanding challenging behaviour, mental health courses, AA Programmes, women’s aid, jewellery making workshops, creative writing and drama, bible study, Fife College courses by distance learning, and reading, writing and numeracy learning, and cooking. One woman said she was studying for a University Degree.

For example, one woman commented: “The education is brilliant. I am reading and writing and getting on brilliant. I have one-to-ones with [teacher/tutor]. The bible study is brilliant too.”

However, two women expressed education opportunities were limited or they felt there was no education on offer for them, and they would like more education opportunities; one woman said she would like to do maths and modern studies, and another woman wanted opportunities to retrain in another profession before liberation, as she felt this would benefit her and support her living in her community. She said she had asked staff, but felt frustrated that an opportunity to retrain was not forthcoming.

Two women shared a general agreement that the library in the CCU was “OK”. There is not a library as such, but shelving around the CCUs with books. One woman did say that they could make specific library requests, and the local library would bring these books to the CCU.

Pastoral care

Four women who were involved with pastoral care were in the main positive, and said the pastoral care was for example: “brilliant” and “fab.” One woman was positive about the prison fellowship volunteers who came into the CCU, and opportunities to go to a local community church.

One woman was positive about the care and support she had received from the chaplain bereavement counselling. However, another woman conveyed they had not seen the chaplain for bereavement counselling. Another woman noted it took months to get pastoral care because of all the paperwork (“Partnership Agreement” – see below) required for organisations to come into a CCU.

However, one woman commented in one CCU there was now (at the time of the baseline study) no pastoral care as the priest was on long-term leave, and they had not been replaced. They wondered why a local church could not be explored to come into the CCU, as above, in the context of the paperwork required, they felt: “It takes so long to sort things out, I don’t know why it takes so long?”

Paperwork (“Partnership Agreements”)

Organisations wishing to work with women in the CCUs complete and sign formal agreements with SPS to deliver and provide their services (i.e. courses, workshops, activities). A few women referred to these formal agreements as “Partnership Agreements.” Four women said they thought these agreements stopped organisations from coming into the CCUs and working with them. From their perspective, they thought the paperwork required to be completed by organisations was burdensome, and seemed to take ages for organisations to complete and be approved to come into a CCU, and provide their services.

The baseline study did not involve delivery partners (non-statutory and statutory) and it was therefore difficult to unpack and understand the challenges highlighted by participants.

Daily Timetable - mixed experiences

Seven women mentioned the activities in the timetable that they enjoyed, such as: jewellery making workshops; crotchet; Reiki; Fellowship Group/bible study; dancing; Dundee Rep; Miss, Ms, and Mrs; and, activities led by people with lived experience.

One woman thought there was lots of activities on offer which she enjoyed, and two women specifically said that they had learned new things such as sewing, cooking and time keeping.

Four women positively commented on some of the CCU staff running activities such as quizzes, bingo, karaoke, weekly themed days [e.g. Italian food, American themed with a movie], playing board games, and line dancing. In one CCU, women talked positively about a Come Dine with me evening with women and staff.

That said, most women (11) who commented further when talking about the daily timetable

commonly said that there was not enough to do, the timetable was the same all the time and could be more varied, and more activities could be offered. For example, two women commented:

“There are only 1 or 2 activities a day so it is not jam packed.”

“There is nothing to do. There is low morale, the only saviour is that women here are supporting each other, it is a good group of women.”

One woman commented again on lack of community access - she felt that women in the CCU would have more to do if they were approved for community access, for example, she expressed: “We could be in the community doing things, but we are not.”

However, two women said they did not get involved in some activities because the activities were not for them, or although there could be more to do, it was like being outside, as one woman noted:

“Some days I don’t take part in a certain activity as it’s not for me, but on those days I have a good choice of other stuff I like to do. It’s a good balance and realistic as to how it will be when your outside and living your life on a daily basis, some days are busier than others.” Another woman said:

“I am bored but it is like being oot, be doing loads one day and nothing the next. If I had too much on I would want to sit down and do nothing. But there could be a lot mair to do.”

One woman also mentioned she felt women in the CCUs had to attend the activities, as “you are frowned upon if you don’t go.” For example:

“…so I go to the activities and things, to say I am doing, seen to be doing.”

Re-integration – mixed experiences on feeling prepared

Seventeen women commented further on the support they received whilst living in a CCU to help them return to the community on release. Overall, these women were more positive that they were receiving the guidance, support and help they needed to prepare to return to their communities, compared to their experience in their older establishment. They talked positively of the CCU staff/personal officers helping and encouraging them to plan for their release.

Six women near liberation talked positively of the support and help they were receiving with for example, healthcare, housing, social work and the job centre, and help with accessing available community grants. They talked positively of the support they would be receiving from SHINE on their release.

Two women also said that living in the CCU house, doing their own food shop, cooking meals and keeping their households clean and tidy were all good preparation for release.

Five women said that their special escorted leave (SEL) home and/or in the community was helping them to prepare for release. One woman who had been in custody a number of years conveyed a SEL shopping trip helped her to feel safe and not overwhelmed.

However, four women said they did not feel supported or prepared for their release; they felt they were not fully prepared.

One woman felt she was not receiving the support she needed with the job centre and benefits or her rent arrears, and was worried she would lose her house and have nowhere to stay when released, she commented: “What is the point in helping in jail if nobody helps on the outside?”

Another woman was concerned because she felt she would be released without any support, and felt she could not prepare to return to the community if she had no community access opportunities to prepare for release, she commented: “[without community access opportunities]…I will be going out to opening a pandora box in the community.”

Two women to be released soon on home detention curfew felt they were not communicated to about the process and what happens when, to fully understand what it would be like living with a tag on their release.

One woman commented, although she was prepared to leave because she had her house sorted, she did not feel mentally prepared, she commented:

“I am not mentally prepared for returning to community. They don’t ask if you are going to be ok? Cause you are not their care anymore…I am going to miss having company, someone in house, ain wee family, [X] housemate is my sister. I don’t have that outside.”

Ultimate Self - moving forward/right path

Five women further reflected on the SPS Ultimate Self programmes they had participated in^[28], that they said helped them move forward, and think positively. For example, one woman said:

“I have used my sentence wise and positive, done Ultimate Self, and grew as a person.”

Three of these women particularly mentioned being in custody had turned their life around, and they were now on the right path, for example:

“The Adapt course really helped me to change my thought process. Coming to prison has been the hardest thing and the best as I found myself, what I can achieve, how I can use my voice in the right way, prison has done me the world of good, it has turned my life around. That carnage and chaos cannot happen again. I see my actions and behaviours have consequences on others, on my family.”

Another woman conveyed:

“It is not about making you feel [*] about what happened. It is so [*] in jail, but if I had not got jail I would not be here, not be alive. It has made me sort myself out, getting out to be the best person I can be and be a mum.”

And, another woman conveyed:

“I am on the right path now, I will keep on the right path when out. It was a good thing for me to get the jail to get me on the right path.”

Women reflected that they did not wish their sentence to shape or define them or continue to be judged; they valued programmes and support that help with their rehabilitation and moving on with their lives.

Summary – Meaningful Activities

Overall experiences of meaningful activities were more positive in a CCU compared to experiences in an older establishment. In an older establishment, women reported that it was important for them to keep busy through activities such as outdoor recreation time, Ultimate Self (offender management programme for women), work and education opportunities. Where women were not experiencing these opportunities satisfaction with meaningful activities was more negative and they reported feeling bored because of not having enough to do to occupy their time meaningfully.

Although women’s experiences were more positive in a CCU, women reported mixed feelings as to whether they were satisfied or not with the activities (i.e. lack of gym space/quality compared to an older establishment), daily timetable (i.e. not enough to do), and lack of work and education opportunities available. Lack of community access emerged again, with women reporting their frustrations at the formal decision-making process not granting approval for them to go to a gym, activity/shop or to a work opportunity in the local community surrounding the CCU. Frustrations were also reported on the amount of formal paperwork required for organisations to be approved to deliver their activities/services in a CCU, that women believed delayed or somehow prevented organisations from becoming delivery partners.

In an older establishment and a CCU, where women talked about Ultimate Self programmes, they were positive these were helping to support their progression for release and community re-integration. That said, a key concern of women in their older establishment was the lack of support available for their release and community re-integration, but they were expecting to receive this support once they had moved to a CCU. However, women in the CCU were mixed on whether they were receiving the support (i.e. healthcare, housing, social work, job centre/benefits) they felt they needed to prepare for their release.

Domain Six: Autonomy

Table Thirteen shows the mean scores across Domain Six. Overall, women scored higher on autonomy whilst living in a CCU, compared to when they lived in their older establishment (respectively 4.18 compared to 2.88).

Table Thirteen: Domain Six: Autonomy

Domain items	Pre-move mean (n=34)	Post-move mean (n=23)
Overall Domain Six: Autonomy	2.88	4.18
Theme 6.1: Autonomy Questions	2.88	4.18
A28. There is much I can decide for myself here	2.79	4.30
A29. I can decide for myself on matters that are important to me here	3.24	4.30
A30. I am encouraged to arrange matters here myself	3.15	4.13
A31. I have sufficient freedom of movement here	2.32	4.00

Qualitative Discussion/Comments

In the pre-move survey, seven women commented on the limited autonomy they experienced in their older establishment, and ten women commented on the more autonomy they experienced in a Community Custody Unit (post-move survey).

Autonomy pre-move survey

No Autonomy

Four women who disagreed they could decide things for themselves, commented there was nothing they could decide for themselves, and there was no encouragement to arrange matters for themselves. They felt they had no choice, were restricted and became stuck in a routine. One woman conveyed: “you are told [by staff] when to move, when to eat, when to exercise, you cannot choose.”

On sufficient freedom of movement three women commented they spent more time in their cell than outside of it, with one woman saying: “You are locked-up all the time” and another saying: “You are more in your cell than not.”

Autonomy post-move survey

More autonomy

Most of the ten women who further commented conveyed that they appreciated they could decide on when to eat, what to eat, when to sleep, when to wake up, and when to have visits. In the main they talked positively of freedom of movement in the context of not being locked-up and having freedom of movement in their houses, the gardens and the hub.

However, three women said the CCU is still a prison and they still felt restricted because they still had to arrange everything through staff, and they still had to abide by the regime and routine.

Community access

Three women commented again on the lack of community access opportunities and work placements in the community, and that they had no autonomy over these decisions, or that the CCU staff [“who knew them”] had no autonomy on their temporary release decisions, made through the formal risk management process.

However, one woman was very positive and said she could not fault the process as she had been approved a work placement for 5-days a week, in a job she really wanted to do. She also said she saw her child one day a week at the weekend, by herself, and she travels herself to visit and stay with her family (a staff member only taking her to and from the station).

Summary – Autonomy

Although some women felt they had more autonomy living in a CCU than living in their older establishment, a few women were frustrated at the lack of community access and work opportunities; they felt restricted, and they felt closed condition rules and regulations were being imposed on the CCUs – a theme repeated through the baseline study by a number of participants.