Prison-based Social Work at Addiewell Prison

 Who can get a service?

Depending on the length of sentence, and also on particular circumstances, a prisoner may be allocated a prison-based Social Worker. Prisoners with the following sentences will be provided with a service:

• Supervised Release Order (SRO)
• Long Term Sentence (4 or more years)
• Extended Sentence
• Life Sentence
• Order of Lifelong Restriction (OLR)

We will also work with any prisoner in the following special categories:

• Sex Offenders
• Schedule 1 Offenders (people who have offended against children)
• Recalled prisoners

How do Prison-based Social Workers help prisoners?

The Prison-based Social Worker will meet prisoners, to gather information about them that will inform the preparation of their Risk Assessment. This will include: family contacts, planned accommodation, health, offending behaviour, risk factors and what help prisoners can be offered, both before and after release. We aim to assist in prisoners making positive changes to their lifestyle and behaviour.

Prison-based Social Workers attend and contribute to Integrated Case Management meetings (ICMs) and are involved in release planning.  As part of this, they prepare reports as required for the Parole Board, and have regular contact with community-based Social Workers and other appropriate services.

With whom do Prison-based Social Workers share information?

All information and behaviour that relates to a prisoner's past offending or that places a prisoner at risk of committing further offences may be shared with other prison staff, community-based social work, and the Parole Board.  We may also share some information with agencies that may work with prisoners after their release from prison.

We are also duty-bound to pass on any information that we receive which could indicate that a prisoner is a potential risk of harm to him/herself or to others.

Social work information about a prisoner is held in a file that is kept within the prison. This is transferred with the prisoner if there is a move to another prison.

How to see a prison-based Social Worker

Prisoners who have been allocated a prison-based Social Worker will automatically be contacted when they enter prison. For newly sentenced prisoners, this should normally be within 5 working days.

Prisoners without an allocated Prison-based Social Worker

Any other prisoner has the right to request voluntary assistance, after their release from prison, from the local Criminal Justice Team in the council area where they live. This service aims to help people settle back into the community, to work with them on the issues that led to their offending, and to manage their risk to the community.

Contact Details

Prison-based Social Work Unit, HMP Addiewell

9 Station Road, Addiewell, West Lothian EH55 4QF

Tel: 01506 874500       Fax: 01506 874563