The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services (OICS) has recognised efforts by the Department of Justice to increase non-custodial staffing levels in Western Australia's prisons.
The Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services (OICS) has recognised efforts by the Department of Justice to increase non-custodial staffing levels in Western Australia's prisons.
The Department has launched a number of recruitment and retention measures aimed at bolstering the non-custodial workforce.
Non-custodial staff in prisons provide support services and treatment programs to help people in custody address their wellbeing issues and offending behaviours.
OICS noted the Department had implemented recruitment initiatives including the Clinical Shortages Workforce Group, nursing student placements, relocation costs and qualification reviews.
The clinical shortages group is focused on identifying opportunities to enhance the recruitment and retention of clinical staff and offer further employment benefits and incentives.
Department Director General Kylie Maj said prisoner population growth has placed greater demands on the delivery of non-custodial support services and programs in WA's correctional system.
"The Corrective Services Safer Staffing Review has been expanded to include non-custodial staffing profiles to ensure this cohort is resourced appropriately to meet the needs of each prison," she said.
"Additional proactive strategies such as partnerships with universities to place nursing undergraduates into custodial facilities across the State have also commenced."
Corrective Services Commissioner Brad Royce said the WA prison estate's non-custodial staff, like custodial officers, are critical to the objectives of reducing recidivism and creating safer communities.
"Our non-custodial teams continually strive to improve prisoners' health, mental health and welfare as well as support desistance through tailored programs and services," he said.
"We acknowledge OICS' call to address vacancies in this space and are working hard to strengthen non-custodial staffing including in health and wellbeing and rehabilitation and reintegration services."
