Built in 1975, Cornton Vale comprises a total of 217 cells in its 5 houses. It became an all-woman prison in 1978 under governor Lady Martha Bruce, and now houses almost all female adults and young offenders in Scotland. In April 1999, the separation of adults and young offenders was attained. And in the last 2 years, a systematic renovation and upgrading of all 5 houses has been carried out.

Intro

Sited between Stirling and Bridge of Allan in central Scotland, Cornton Vale provides custodial facilities for remanded and sentenced females. It is Scotland's only all-female establishment and so nearly all female prisoners and young offenders in Scotland are housed here. The complex provides 230 places for women prisoners in five blocks. Four of these blocks (or houses) have 178 places and are sub-divided into six or seven-room units each with its own dining/sitting room, and almost all have a common kitchen or servery. One of these blocks is containing 27 places is currently being renovated to provide a dedicated Young Offender facility. Prisoners have access at night to sanitary facilities. All blocks have recently been redecorated. The fifth block, Ross House, has been reconstructed to provide 52 bedsit places in 10 single, 15 twin and 4 triple rooms.

A central block comprises workshops, laundry, central kitchen, gymnasium and classrooms. The Health Centre provides medical, dental, psychological and psychiatric services on an outpatient basis.

Women remanded in custody in the north, north east and south west of Scotland are usually held initially in Inverness, Aberdeen and Dumfries prisons and remain there if sentenced to up to six months. Women serving over six months and up to two years are given the option of staying in their own area or of moving to Cornton Vale; and women sentenced to two years or more serve their sentences at Cornton Vale. These arrangements assist prisoners maintaining contact with their families and friends, who may otherwise find travelling arrangements difficult.

We could not do what we do without Cornton Vale's dedicated staff. For several years we have been focusing on developing this most important of our assets. Every employee within the establishment receives training and development to fulfil their role now and where appropriate for the future. In November 1999 we were awarded the coveted Investors in People Award. There is little doubt that the significant progress towards being recognised as a Centre of Excellence in the Custodial Care of Women is down to the foresight of its management team and the commitment of all the staff to a shared vision of the future.

Visiting

Directions
HMPI Cornton vale is situated on the B823 approximately 2 miles from the town centre of Stirling. If travelling by car from Glasgow, Edinburgh or the north, stay on the M9 until junction 11, take the road signposted to Bridge of Allan (2 miles) Once you are in Bridge of Allan, turn right into Fountain Road (opposite the Royal Hotel). Proceed down Fountain Road, past the Fire Station and over the railway level crossing. Cornton Vale is 400 yards past the crossing on the right hand side.

Parking is limited at Cornton Vale. Please park in the visitors parking area only - not in the private residential area opposite the establishment.

Visiting times:
MONDAY:
Mother and child visits: 10.45 - 12.00; Untried visits: 13.15 - 14.30; Mother and Child visits: 14.45 - 16.00; Peebles Privileged visits: 18.30 - 20.30

TUESDAY
Mother and Child Visits: 10.45 - 12.00; Mother and Child Visits: 13.15 - 14.30; Convicted visits (Bruce and Skye): 14.45 - 16.00; Untried visits: 18.30 - 19.45

WEDNESDAY
Mother and Child Visits: 10.45 - 12.00; Untried visits: 13.15 - 14.30; Convicted visits (Bruce and Skye): 14.45 - 16.00; Peebles Privileged visits: 18.30 - 20.30

THURSDAY
Mother and Child Visits: 10.45 - 12.00; Untried visits: 18.30 - 19.45

FRIDAY
Untried visits: 13.15 - 14.30; Convicted visits (Bruce/Skye): 14.45 - 16.00; Peebles Family Visits: 18.30 - 20.30

SATURDAY
Mother and Child Visits: 09.15 - 10.30; Untried visits: 10.45 - 11.45; Convicted visits (all blocks): 13.30 - 14.30; Convicted visits (all blocks): 14.45 - 15.45

SUNDAY
Peebles family Visits: 09.45 - 11.45; Convicted Visits (all blocks): 13.30 - 14.30; Convicted Visits (all blocks) 14.45 - 15.45

AGENTS VISITS
Monday to Friday: 09.30 - 12.00; Monday to Wednesday: 13.30 - 16.00; Friday: 13.30 - 16.00

Further Info

DRUGS
On reception, the Medical Officer assesses what treatment is required for a person reported as having a drugs problem. Prisoners are also referred to the two drug addiction workers for counselling and support, and to arrange throughcare on release. The addiction support programme lasts for 21 days and caters for up to14 prisoners at a time who are offered the opportunity to become drug free in a humane and fully supportive environment. Groups and workshops aim to raise the self-esteem and change the attitudes of the women. Once the residential programme is completed, the follow-through process is triggered to provide a continuity of care ion the community on release.

Programmes and Activities
Nineteen instructional staff and 2 managers in Cornton Vale are responsible for prison activities and programmes within the establishment. Currently, about 130 prisoners go to work every day to the following parties:

Assessment
This workshop offers a constructive risk assessment of need to all convicted prisoners, taking part in regime interventions. Through a structured programme of activities each prisoner is interviewed by regime providers (education, employability, social interventions, health care etc.) with each receiving specific and priorities recommendations on the service they require. Thereafter a consolidated overview is agreed with the individual prisoner, and as such sets out the foundation for the management of the prison sentence.

Industrial Cleaners
The Industrial Cleaning party offers training and employment in a wide variety of cleaning duties within the establishment. Women are trained to the externally recognised qualification British Institute of Cleaning Science.

VT Hairdressing
Prisoners are offered the opportunity to participate in the wide ranging employment skills related to hairdressing. Externally recognised qualifications include SQA levels 1, and 2.

Laundry
Cornton Vale laundry provides a very good in-house service.

Horticulture
Employability skills include Horticulture and Agriculture. Vegetation and plants are cultivated within the purpose built area. Externally recognised qualifications are also offered to the women attending.

VT Soft Furnishings
Prisoners are employed in the craft of soft furnishing. Items manufactured are wide ranging and include curtains, clothing, bedding, furnishing and soft toys.

Education
The Education Department offers a flexible programme of academic work and leisure classes, which include numeracy and literacy classes, a variety of certificated cookery courses, arts and crafts, computer skills and budget skills courses.

Physical Education
A fully equipped gymnasium with fully trained staff offers a wide variety of physical programmed activities. Women who attend can attain externally recognised qualifications in a wide variety of activities and be trained (again to externally recognised standards) in first aid.

Prisoner Programmes
A range of prisoner programmes is offered which includes the SPS accredited programmes of cognitive skills and anger management. Others include: anxiety, sleep awareness, Re-Assessing my Potential (RAMP), self-esteem, parenting, STEPS to Excellence, employability skills (provided by APEX) and an addiction service via Turnaround and the local Community Addiction Team.

Crafts
This workshop opened in April 1998 and focuses on meeting the needs of particularly vulnerable women of both convicted and remand status. Skills available include design, pottery, painting, drawing, furniture restoration and calligraphy.

Packing Plant
An occupational work party, primarily for remand prisoners. The workshop offers the women he opportunity to attend work daily and experience a production environment where targets and quality delivery are key to the success of the workshop.

Catering
Employability opportunities from an external catering facility are provided with recognised qualifications offered.

Gymnasium
A fully equipped gymnasium with fully trained staff offers a wide variety of physical programmed activities. Women who attend can attain externally recognised qualifications in a wide variety of activities and be trained (again to externally recognised standards) in first aid. Individual programmes are offered to the women and are deigned to address the health issues many have.

Arts and Craft
An arts and craft workshop provides occupation to the more vulnerable sections of the population. Skills available include design, pottery, painting, drawing, furniture restoration and calligraphy.

Programmed Interventions
Three full time staff offer a wide range of programmed interventions. These programmes are needs led and are designed to intervene and support the women in a variety of social skills, addiction problems and psychological issues facing them. Multidisciplinary teams assess the needs of individuals with evaluation on individual progression taking place during and after attendance.

Education
Education services are provided by Motherwell College and offer learning opportunities to all women of differing levels of educational attainment. Core classes are delivered in Communications, Numeracy, IT, Problem Solving, and Arts & Crafts supported by distance learning, support and educational guidance.

Healthcare
The health centre in Cornton Vale offers a range of services to meet the growing needs and demands of its prisoner population. The ethos being that health care in Cornton Vale is commensurate with that available in the community health setting.

The health centre is staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week by nursing staff and we have medical staff on site Monday to Saturday with 24 hour on call facilities available.

All women are assessed by a nurse on admission and by the Medical Officer within 24 hours of entering Cornton Vale. A Medical Officer Clinic is held on a daily basis except Sunday with women having the opportunity to self-refer. A range of specialist and gender specific services enhances this care package e.g.:

Nurse led initiatives include:

All women entering Cornton Vale have access to a robust drug detoxification programme. The Scottish Prison Service published Health Care Standard 10 in 1998. Cornton Vale Health Centre meets the criteria for all women under its care. The medical team advocate they will not de-establish a woman on admission to prison. They must, however, be on a stable prescription in the community and test free from illicit drugs.

The health care team welcomes comment and are available to discuss health care concerns. Please contact the Head of Health Care or the Medical Officer.