Bridgend Council’s Cabinet is set to sign off on an agreement between the council and HM Prison Service to provide social service support to young offenders at Parc Prison (pdf).
Prisons and criminal justice are not devolved to Wales and are the responsibility of the UK Government.
However, the Welsh Government and local authorities are responsible for any accompanying public services that inmates may require. This includes things such as health, education/training, housing and social services.
As part of the agreement, a social worker from the Bridgend Youth Justice Service will be assigned to work with under-18s who have been given a custodial sentence or are being held on remand.
The aim will be to ensure the prison is complying with safeguarding duties and that any young person detained at the prison who has previously been looked after by a local authority – or identified as being in need in some way – is supported to access services they’re entitled to whilst in custody or ahead of/following release.
Under the agreement, the council will invoice the prison service £95,000 for the period 3rd January 2023 – 31st March 2024. The agreement will be reviewed in December each year.
