At HMP Altcourse prisoner activities and work allocation
systems will be designed to reflect life outside of prison. This means
that prisoners will have to take choices, compete in the job market,
structure their leisure time around their working day and plan for
the future.
Work provided will use and develop prisoners' skills and abilities
and, where possible, reflect the skill requirements of the external,
local labour market; for example some jobs will require shift work,
offer day release education and provide the opportunity to earn productivity
bonuses.
Prisoners will be assessed for work suitability in terms of physical
ability, educational needs, sentence planning targets and security.
Work allocation will be determined by the needs and the well-being
of both the prison and the prisoner. Vacancies will be advertised
and open to competition for those who meet the requirements.
A broad range of educational, leisure and religious activities will
be open to prisoners that will provide for them mentally, physically
and spiritually; and in an effort to reflect life outside, the majority
of leisure activities will be programmed for evenings and weekends,
outside of the core working day.
