Procedure - Townsville Women's - Offender Admission and Induction

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Purpose
1.	Process
2.	Definitions
3.	Reception
3.1	Admission Assessment
3.2	Offender's with Identified Needs
3.3	Offender's with Children
3.4	Pregnant Offenders
4.	Induction
4.1	Unit induction
4.2	Offender induction
5.	Role and Responsibility of Induction Unit Officers
6.	Peer Support Workers & PAC Delegates
7.	Audit

Purpose

To enable persons received into the correctional system to be informed of their obligations, rights, entitlements and opportunities for changing their offending behaviour and to enable such persons to make informed decisions about how they will undertake their sentence or remand period.

The procedure also aims to provide for the safe, efficient and effective admission of women into the correctional system by ensuring timely and accurate collection of personal details and sentencing information.

1. Process

1. all offenders will be placed in a suitable accommodation unit, irrespective of previous placement at the centre, subsequent to an initial reception interview and admission assessment prior to exiting the reception store;
2. regardless of where an offender is initially placed, all offenders received into the centre must complete the induction program;
3. in accordance with adult learning principles, information contained within the induction program is to be delivered ensuring comprehension by all offenders. This includes delivery by visual, verbal and practical implementation; and
4. in instances where offenders with English-as-a-second language are received into the centre, and where available resources exist (such as local staff with a second language), an overview of the information contained within the induction program should be delivered in the principle language of the offenders with the use of translation services where required.

2. Definitions

'Induction unit' is the accommodation unit identified for the offender's initial placement at the centre.

3. Reception

Refer procedures - Admission and At-Risk Management (Self Harm/Suicide)

Refer administrative form - Townsville Women's - Reception Checklist and Prisoner Acknowledgement Form

3.1 Admission Assessment

Refer procedure - Assessment

Refer Townsville Women's Correctional Centre local procedures Offender Management and Parental Support Unit.

Refer administrative form - Townsville Women's - Admission Assessment

In addition to the Immediate Risk Needs Assessment (IRNA), Assessment Services staff must also complete an admission assessment prior to the offender exiting the reception store for accommodation placement.

The purpose of the admission assessment is to capture any emergent welfare needs relating to children, housing and homelessness, legal matters, employment, or any other special requirements. The assessment will also indicate if an intensive management plan is required for the offender, refer paragraph 3.2.

Any required referrals to work units are to be actioned and recorded via E Shopfront, in addition to an email to the responsible staff member, and a case note evidencing the action taken by close of business on the day of the offender's admission.

Completed admission assessments are to be attached to IOMS as follows:

OFFENDER FILE WINDOW > OFFENDER DETAILS > ATTACHMENTS > Admission Assessment DD/MM/YY

3.2 Offender's with Identified Needs

Refer procedure - Intensive Management Plans

Refer local procedure - Townsville Women's Offender Management.

Identified needs may include but not be limited to -

1. Physical/intellectual disability
2. Religious needs
3. Cultural needs
4. Health/medical conditions
5. Any other need which requires a supervision regime, intensive case management and/or intervention strategies to assist with the offender's integration within a correctional facility.

For offenders with identified health/medical conditions including mental health concerns, referrals to Q Health are to be made in writing.

Refer administrative form - Townsville - Referral to Prisoner Mental Health Service

Refer administrative form - Townsville - Referral to Visiting Medical Officer

Refer administrative form - Queensland Health Referral

All completed forms are to be attached to the offender file window on IOMS.

3.3 Offender's with Children

Refer procedure - Accommodation of Children

Refer local procedure - Townsville Women's Parental Support Unit.

Refer administrative form - Assessment for Accommodation of a Child in a Corrective Services Facility.

Refer Statutory Declaration

If during the admission process an offender reports they are currently breastfeeding, the application for accommodation of their child in custody must be finalised and the offender advised of the outcome by close of business on the day of reception.

In instances where an offender requests to have their child/children (who are younger than school age) accommodated with them at the facility, the application for accommodation must be finalised and the offender advised of the outcome within three (3) working days of the day of reception. A simultaneous application for playgroup must also be made with the offender advised of the outcome within five (5) working days of reception.

If during the admission process an offender applies to have their child/ren reside with them in custody, Assessment Services is to convene a planning meeting for a care plan to be put in place within five (5) working days of reception.

3.4 Pregnant Offenders

If during the admission process an offender is identified to be pregnant, Assessment Services is to be immediately notified and a pregnancy plan generated within ten (10) working days of reception.

Refer local procedure - Townsville Women's Parental Support Unit.

4. Induction

Refer procedure - Induction

4.1 Unit induction

Refer administrative form - Townsville Women's - Unit Induction Checklist and Prisoner Acknowledgement Form

4.2 Offender induction

1. staff involved in the induction of a prisoner into the correctional facility must complete administrative form - Townsville Women's - Unit Induction Checklist and Prisoner Acknowledgement Form; and
2. cultural unit staff are required to meet with all prisoners within seven days of admission to assess the prisoner's cultural identity and development needs and must complete administrative form - Townsville - Cultural Identity Questionnaire.

5. Role and Responsibility of Induction Unit Officers

1. provision of a pro-social environment promoting change for offenders;
2. management of the induction unit to ensure that the induction program is completed consistent with timetables, checklists and procedures;
3. assessment of induction offenders to minimise risk and assess compatibility issues that may be present (in consultation with members of other multi-disciplinary work units);
4. assessment and advice regarding offender moves to placement units.

6. Peer Support Workers & PAC Delegates

1. offenders identified as eligible, suitable, and approved through the offender employment process as peer support workers, will be utilised to provide support to induction unit officers and service delivery staff in the facilitation of the offender induction program;
2. offenders employed as peer support for the induction program, are to conduct tasks and duties as per the job description for their positions;
3. suitably identified peer support workers will also facilitate a session to all new offenders with regards to anti-bullying and anti-violence prevention (refer local procedure - Townsville Women's Anti Bullying and Anti Violence Strategy; refer appendix - Townsville Women's Peer Support Induction Session Plan);
4. peer support workers and PAC delegates are to be provided with all relevant documentation to support the offender induction program so that further assistance can be provided to newly received offenders. Documentation may include but not be limited to -
   
   
   1. Townsville Women's - Local Induction Handbook
   2. Prisoner Information Booklet
   3. Offender Criminogenic Program Fact Sheets
   4. In Cell Hobby Lists
   5. Incentives and Privileges Table
   6. Buy Up Forms and Delivery Timetable
   7. Structured Day viii. Visits Information brochure(s)
   8. Religious Visitor Timetable
   9. ARUNTA Phone Enrolment Forms
   10. ARUNTA Phone List Update forms
   11. Special Visit Request forms xiii. Employment application xiv. Offender Privacy Statement
   12. Right to Information & Privacy Fact Sheet xvi. Privacy & Personal Information - Brochure for offenders
   13. Application for Family Video Conference
   14. Inter-facility Contact Application xix. Offender Induction Checklist
   15. Ombudsman Advice Brochure xxi. Prisoner Complaint Form
   
   

xxii. Q Health DVD Schedule

xxiii. Complaints Management Process Flow Chart

xxiv. Medicare Card Application Form

xxv. 18+ Card Application Form

xxvi. Incentives & Privileges Incentive Table and Privilege Table

7. Audit

This local procedure is to be reviewed annually to ensure ongoing procedural and operational relevance.

Marlene Morison
Deputy Commissioner, Custodial Operations

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