Our Board, like all IMBs, is composed of a diverse group of people with differing life and work experience: that’s what makes us strong. My visit starts when I show my ID at the prison gate and draw keys, giving me unrestricted access to all parts of the prison. A prison is like a small town: it has to provide everything that prisoners need, so the IMB has to monitor everything that happens there. My first stop before going onto the wings is to review what has been happening in the prison over the last 24 hours.

Segregation

I then head out, starting my visit on the segregation unit, where the women with more complex needs are being held in solitary confinement. My role here is to understand why they have been segregated and check on how they are being treated by staff. Many will have mental health issues and need specialist help; some should be transferred to a secure hospital. 

I will then move onto the prison wings, to gain a sense of what life is like there and interact with both prisoners and staff. We are a visible presence which ensures that everyone is aware that life inside the prison is being monitored by someone from the community. People often ask me if I feel unsafe among people in prison, but I’ve always found prisoners easy to engage with; they understand we’re there to support them and our presence can be reassuring.

When talking to the women, I try to have meaningful conversations so that I can gain an understanding of their experiences. Many can be vulnerable, or at risk of suicide and self-harm, so it’s important that I check whether staff are engaging with them too. I also ensure that I speak to any women who are pregnant, to establish whether the care they are receiving is the same as they would expect to receive in the community.

Physical conditions

The physical conditions on the wings are also important. Are the showers mouldy? Do the washing machines work? Are the cells warm and dry enough? Through talking to both officers and prisoners, I am able to check whether what I am being told is consistent with what I see and hear. Other IMB members will also be checking on the education and training provision that helps the women gain skills and will potentially lead to employment on release, as well as the available healthcare support.

Finally, I return to the IMB office in the prison to record what I’ve learnt from staff, prisoners and my own observations. This is shared with all my colleagues on the Board and the prison Governor, who we meet every month at our Board meetings to discuss emerging themes we’ve picked up on. 

It is generally during my drive home that I find myself reflecting on everything I’ve seen and heard that day in a place that’s out of sight, but shouldn’t be out of mind. I am clear that being an IMB member is a privileged position which leaves me with a real sense of achievement.

If you want to make a difference to the lives of others apply now to join an IMB at a prison near you. Visit www.imb.org.uk/join-now to find out more.

Thanks to Andy Aitchison for kind permission to use the header image in this post. You can see Andy’s work here.