NIPS - Transformation

Question 1

What did SSL do

Answer 1

Developed a suit of tablet apps to reduce the burden on front line staff
Detailed information needed to be accurately
- collected
- updated
- acted upon
to support safety & rehabilition in prison

Question 2

How many prisons does NIPS have

Answer 2

NIPS (NOrthern Ireland Prison Service) has 3 prisons
- Young Offenders & females
- Sentenced Inmates
- Remand, Sentenced Inmates serving life sentences and high security inmates

Question 3

Aim of prison

Answer 3

Improve public safety by reducing the risk of reoffending through the management and rehabilition of people in their care

Question 4

Prison Challenge 1

Answer 4

Ensuring officers have access to the most current information possible in a Wi-Fi free envrionment with limited access to computer terminals

Question 5

Prison Challenge 2

Answer 5

Freeing up prison officer time to focus on engagement and rehabilitative activity rather than adminsitrative duties

Question 6

Prison Challenge 3

Answer 6

While still ensuring that the necessary processes are completed speedily, ccurately and in a timely manner

Question 7

Challenges in Prison

Answer 7

Highly complex environment to manage
- Many inmates have complex health requirements including mental health issues
- Proportion of inmates do not have English as their first language
- Post-pandemic a sizable % of those in prison are remand prisoners

Question 8

Processes which have been digitised

Answer 8

• Digital Management of Prisoner Regimes
• Health and Saftey Incident Management
• Digitising inmates diaries

Question 9

Committal Interview

Answer 9

Initial collection of data from prisoners when they first arrive
was time consuming and detailed process which took 2 hours to complete
Over 100 questions using pen and paper which then needed to be typed into system

Question 10

Benefits of digital committal interview

Answer 10

• Many hundreds of officer hours saved
• Translation capability of top 20 languages enabling prisoners to understand what the question is and answer
• Overall enhanced the accuracy of information to manage the prisoners

Question 11

Devices

Answer 11

Two devices
- Tablet - for longer detailed processes
- Handheld for wing based roles - QR Scanner, Camera worn on forearm

Download relevant information for the activity then is offline until plugged back into NIPS point.

Question 12

Example usage

Answer 12

Prisoner needs to be monitored every 15 mins
- Officer can scan QR code of the cell
– This adds time stamp entry check for each checkin
– Also alerts officers to do the check

• Much faster recording of the check - More free time for the officers to spend on welfare.
• Added benefit of providing a more detailed and clearly verifiable pathway of care and contact for inspectorates

Question 13

Key Outcomes & Benefits

Answer 13

• Enhanced prisoner care and improved outomes
• Better use of officer time and skill
• Increased data quality and timeliness
• Transparency