HMP Parc – good leadership and specialist support for prisoners
Parc, a large prison in Bridgend, South Wales that holds 1,623 prisoners, sustained its reputation as a safe and decent prison in this most recent inspection, in which outcomes were rated as good or reasonably good in all our healthy prison tests.
Inspectors were impressed by the use of specialist units – evidence of a creative and innovative leadership. The Cynnwys unit supported prisoners with neurodivergent needs and had advanced autism accreditation from the National Autism Society, and the young adult and veteran unit meant that what could often be a volatile younger population was able to benefit from the advice and support of older prisoners. On both units, excellent care and support was given and living conditions were good. However, this was not the case on the general residential wings, which were dirtier and in need of repair work.
The prison’s ethos encouraged and promoted time out of cell and participation in purposeful activity. Unemployment was low, at about 7%.
Education provision at Parc was some of the best across the estate, rated excellent or good by Estyn in all its assessments. Levels of ability, particularly in literacy and numeracy, were identified by diagnostic assessments completed on arrival at Parc, which were then used to provide learning targeted at weaker areas. Many learners were gaining accreditation to help them progress to the next level of learning or into prison employment.
Parc continued to struggle to stem the flow of drugs into the jail, and almost half of prisoners in our survey said that it was easy to get illicit drugs in the prison. However, leaders understood the problem and were proactive in tackling the threat.
Mental health provision at the prison was not good enough; 64% of survey respondents reported having a mental health problem but only 13% said they were getting support for it. The primary service was severely under-resourced and only crisis services were being delivered.
The prison’s self-assessment showed the right priorities, but leaders need to do more to set targets and track progress. There were lots of good initiatives in the jail, but not always systems or metrics to measure and understand success and failure. The data – churned out to fulfil the terms of the contract – could also help leaders to assess progress more effectively.
Notes to editors
- Read the HMP Parc report, published on 11 October 2022.
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
- Located in Bridgend, South Wales, HMP/YOI Parc was the first prison to be built in the UK under the private finance initiative and opened in November 1997. G4S Care and Justice Ltd has held the operating contract to manage the prison on behalf of HMPPS since the prison opened, and in 2022 won a further 10-year contract. Parc holds a complex population including children aged 15–17 years, young adults, life-sentenced prisoners and those who have committed sexual offences.
- At the time of this inspection, the prison held 1,623 prisoners.
- Inspectors identified seven examples of notable positive practice during this inspection.
- This inspection took place between 21–22 June and 4–8 July 2022.
- Please email media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.