Early Years Scotland Family Visitor Centre HMP Low MossInformation Booklet

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Contents

3. Contact Details

4. About HMP Low Moss

5. Early Years Scotland Family Visitor Centre

6. Children’s Golden Rules in the Family Visitor Centre

7. How do I book a Visit?

New Visit Timetable

8. Rules and Procedures for visits

9. Help for the cost of visits – Assisted Prison Visits Unit (APVU)

Early Years Scotland – what we do in prisons10.

Contact Information

HM Prison Low Moss190 Crosshill RoadBishopbriggsGlasgow, G64 2PZTel: 0141 762 9500

Prison Visits Booking Line

0141 762 9547

Early Years Scotland Family Visitor Centre

Tel: 0141 762 9703

Family Visitor Centre Staff Team

Karen McKayFamily Support Workerkaren.mckay@sps.pnn.gov.uk

Gavin Hamilton Family Visitor Centre Co-ordinatorE-mail: gavin.hamilton@sps.pnn.gov.uk

Lisa LoughranEarly Years Practitionerlisa.loughran@sps.pnn.gov.uk

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About HMP Low Moss

HM Prison Low Moss is located in the Bishopbriggs area of North Glasgow. Having opened on the 5 March 2012 it is a new prison that provides accommodation for approximately 770 prisoners. It holds adult male convicted and remand prisoners primarily from the North Glasgow Community Justice Authority area. Within Low Moss there is a strong focus on facilities to help prisoners address their offending behaviour and re-integrate back into the community on their release from prison.

HM Prison Low Moss is not only a new prison in terms of build but also in culture. The staff at HM Prison Low Moss will treat everyone with decency and respect and will expect the same in return.

A prisoner’s day is busy and the prison uses all opportunities to maximise time out of cell. There will be an extensive range of offending behaviour programmes, work, vocational training, educational and physical development options that challenge, motivate and encourage personal change.

The staff in HM Prison Low Moss will always act in a professional manner, doing their best to maintain a fair, supportive, constructive and challenging environment.

This information booklet will give you most of the information you may require when visiting Low Moss. Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact any of the staff members on duty during your visit that will be pleased to help. We welcome any comments which will improve the experience of current and future visitors.

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Early Years Scotland’s Family Visitor Centre The Scottish Government has a commitment to ensure all prisons in Scotland have a Visitor Centre. The centre is a place for families and friends to relax before their visit and access independent and impartial advice and information to support prisoners’ families. Early Years Scotland is working in partnership with HMP Low Moss and we are proud to provide this service.

Our staff within the Family Visitor Centre have experience working with children and families and are available to assist you with any questions no matter how big or small.

There is free tea and coffee available, a new play area for the children and a confidential family room for you to use if you need advice or just want a chat.

At Early Years Scotland we always want to improve our service so feel free to come to us with ideas or suggestions, we would love to hear from you.

Confidential private space Free tea, coffee and biscuits

Confidential private space Free tea, coffee and biscuits

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Children’s Golden Rules in the Family Visitor Centre

Our new children’s play area has been developed for the children to use and enjoy. Here at HMP Low Moss they have their very own mascot, he is a monkey and his name is Mossy. Children’s safety is our main priority, therefore Mossy Monkey has 5 Golden Rules:

1. We use our walking feet, if we run or climb we could get hurt.

2. We use our indoor voice, we don’t need to shout to be heard.

3. We care for our toys, if we take good care of them we can use them longer.

4. We tidy up our toys when we are finished to make sure they don’t get broken or damaged.

5. Our toys stay in the play area in the Family Visitor Centre, they are for all the boys and girls using the centre to play with.

The children’s play area in the Family Visitor Centre is for children to interact with the Early Years Practitioner and play with other children.

Staff at Early Years Scotland must remind parents that they are responsible for supervising their children and keeping their safety a priority.

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How do I book a visit?

• Visits need to be booked by prisoners’ families/visitors at least 48 hours in advance• Visits can be booked by calling the visits booking line on 0141 762 9547• This booking line is open during the following times:

Monday 8.30am - 8.00pmTuesday 8.30am - 4.00pmWednesday 8.30am - 4.00pmThursday 8.30am- 4.00pm Friday 8.30am - 4.00pm Saturday 9.00am - 1.00pm and 2.00pm - 4.00pm

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Rules and Procedures for Visits

Main Visit Criteria

• Maximum of 3 adult visitors per prisoner.• Visitors must be checked in at least 15 minutes prior to the visit time.• All adult visitors must present valid photo ID and proof of address to gain entry• Once the visitor has been photographed by Low Moss staff any subsequent visits will only

require proof of address.• Maximum £20 cash per visitor can be taken into the Visit Room (coins only no notes).• £1 coin required for lockers, to store mobile phones, handbags etc. New coins are accepted.

Children’s Visit Criteria

• Maximum of 2 adult visitors per prisoner and the visitor must be a legal guardian, parent, step parent or grandparent of the child.

• Visitors must be checked in at least 15 minutes prior to the visit time.• All adult visitors must present valid photo ID and proof of address to gain entry.• Once the visitor has been photographed by Low Moss staff any subsequent visits will only

require proof of address.• Maximum £20 cash per visitor can be taken into the Visit Room.(coins only)• £1 coin required for lockers, to store mobile phones, handbags etc. New coins are accepted.• All visitors including babies, children and young people are subject to robust security

screening.

*You will need TWO forms of photographic ID for your first visit:

PASSPORTDRIVING LICENCEPASS CARDSNATIONAL ENTITLEMENT/IDENTITIY CARDPROOF OF ADDRESS: Utility bill/Driving Licence/Court Papers/Bank Statements.

YOUR PROOF OF ADDRESS WILL NEED TO BE BROUGHT TO EVERY VISIT AND BE NO MORE THAN 3 MONTHS OLD. CHILDREN UNDER 16 DO NOT REQUIRE ID.

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Help with the cost of visits

The Assisted Prison Visits Scheme (APVS) is a great help to any family that is struggling to attend prison visits due to financial reasons. The scheme provides a contribution towards prison visit costs for close relatives, partners or sole visitors. The visitor must be on a low income to receive this benefit. The scheme provides for one visit every two weeks (26 in a 12 month period). A contribution is made towards travel costs, a light refreshment allowance for longer journeys and in limited cases a contribution towards overnight costs. Money is paid towards petrol costs or the cheapest method of public transport for the journey to the prison. If you choose to use more expensive ways of travel, for example travelling to the prison at peak times, then extra costs will not be refunded. Applications for APVS must be made online. For more information or to check if you are eligible check with the family contact officer or check the website:www.gov.uk/government/publications/assisted-prison-visits-form

To get help you must be listed on both the visitor and low income list below:

• Husband, Wife or Civil Partner • Partner - living as a couple before the prisoner went into prison• Parent or Grand-parent (includes step-parent or adoptive parent) • Brother or Sister (includes half-sibling or step-sibling) • Son or Daughter (includes step or adoptive)• Next of Kin (as noted by the prisoner in prison records)• Sole Visitor (only Social visitor in the four weeks before a visit claimed) • Escort to a qualifying adult or child • Income Support • Income - based Job Seekers Allowance • Employment and Support Allowance (Income related) • Universal Credit• Working Tax Credits (with Disability or Child Tax) • Child Tax Credits• Pension Credit• Hold HC2 or HC3 Certificate

You can claim up to 28 days before or after the visit took place.

It is important to keep any receipts.

You must also keep a completed Confirmation of Visit form, which will be stamped and dated at the front desk, we can give you a form.

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Please do not miss out on this help. Call: 0300 063 2100 for online application issues 09.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) or e-mail: assisted.prison.visits@noms.gsi.gov.uk for all other issues or queries.

Early Years Scotland – what we do in prisons

Early Years Scotland is currently working in six prisons delivering our Learning Together Through Play Programme to young children and fathers in prison. Our programme has two strands:

Fathers’ Programme The Fathers’ Programme comprises a mix of theoretical and interactive sessions aimed at supporting fathers to help achieve better outcomes for their children. Fathers are supported to build their parenting skills, knowledge and confidence, all of which can then be implemented during Learning Together Through Play sessions which take place when their children come to visit. This part of the programme lasts for two hours for a block of ten sessions at a time. Almost all parents report that participation in the programme improves and strengthens their overall relationship with their child and family.

Learning Together Through Play Sessions

These sessions are available to those who have completed, or are currently undertaking, the Fathers’ Programme, their young children and others involved in the child’s care. These sessions enable fathers to practice the skills gained during the Fathers’ Programme. They then use these to ensure that their child benefits through play, improved interactions and a more enjoyable experience when they visit their father in prison.

These fun and interactive Learning Together Through Play sessions include support from the Early Years Scotland qualified Early Years Practitioner through role modelling by demonstrating and encouraging the families to participate in singing, action songs, rhymes, reading stories, messy play, arts and crafts learning experiences and free play sessions for children using a selection of resources.

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We also deliver:

• Baby Massage • Follow on play session in the community for prisoners

on release• Awareness raising sessions with prison staff and other

agencies• Signposting to other support agencies.

Feedback received from families and prison staff who have participated in the Early YearsScotland programmes, highlight the following benefits:

• Improved relationships between prisoners and their children• Increased confidence and self-esteem and actively learning together• Fun and laughter with loved ones in challenging circumstances• Parents’ support for each other and developing friendships• Stronger family relationships and reduced stress• Improved play and learning experiences at home• Parents more confident to access other services• Improvement in children’s behaviour and parents’ ability to manage this• Improved prisoner behaviour.

If you would like to find out more about Early Years Scotland’s Learning Together Through Play Programme please speak to Gavin, Lisa or Karen in the Family Visitor Centre.

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Early Years Scotland, 23 Granville Street, Glasgow G3 7EE Tel: 0141 221 4148 • Fax: 0141 221 6043 • Email: info@earlyyearsscotland.org

earlyyearsscotland.org Early Years Scotland is a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland Registration No 86932 and a Scottish Charity Registration No SC003725