Featherstone Prison

Book and plan your visit to Featherstone

To visit someone in Featherstone you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list
• book your visit at least 2 days in advance
• have the required ID with you when you go

You can book up to 2814 days in advance.

Prisoners can have up to 3 adult visitors at a time (18 or over) plus children.

A person can have as many visits as they have visiting orders for. You can check this with the person you are going to visit.

Contact Featherstone if you have any questions about visiting.

Help with the cost of your visit

If you get certain benefits or have an NHS health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit, including:

• travel to Featherstone
• somewhere to stay overnight
• meals

How to book family and friends visits

FeatherstoneYou iscan book runningyour avisit limitedonline.

You visitscan schedule.book Visitsyour arevisit alsoby happeningtelephone.

Booking differentlyline: than0300 normal,0606502

• Monday, observingWednesday strictand guidelines,Friday: which11am mustto 5pm
• Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm

Telephone bookings can be followed.made up until 5pm, two days prior to a visit.

YouIf you have any questions you can email the visits booking email, however they are not able to book youra visit bybut telephone.they Therecan ishelp nowith onlineany questions. visitsbooking.westmidlands@noms.gsi.gov.uk

For general visits queries, not booking servicerequests, available.Please contact PACT on: 01902 70 3254

Email:You visitsbooking.westmidlands@justice.gov.uk
Bookingcan line:contact 0300them 060Tuesday 6502
Monday to Friday,Thursday 9.15amfrom 12 pm to 4pm
Find5pm.

We outalso abouthave calla chargesvisitor’s centre website you can visit on: http://featherstonevisits.co.uk/

Visiting times

• TuesdayTuesday: 2pm to 4pm
• Wednesday: 2pm to 4pm
• Thursday: 2pm to 4pm
• SaturdaySaturday: and2pm to 4pm
• Sunday: 2pm to 4pm

How to book legal and professional visits

ThereLegal arevisits:

• Tuesday currentlyand noThursday: 9:30am to 11:30am The latest arrival time is 10:30am

HMP Featherstone operates paperless visits and legal visitors may bring in plug in fire sticks or similar devices to access paperwork which will be securely printed in the visits takingroom. place.Legal visits staff will provide stationery for legal visitors to use.

Laptops may be brought in but only if the Wi-Fi and camera is disabled. Should a legal visitor have a question they may contact either 01902 703 264 or 01902 703 048.

Getting to Featherstone

Find Featherstone on a map

TheCar: closestFrom railwayWolverhampton stationtake the A449 northbound – there is Wolverhampton,a whichvisitor’s car parking facility at the prison.

Bus: Take number 70 from Stand AC to Cannock. Depart the bus at Honeysuckle Drive, Featherstone. Then walk along New Road towards the Prison (approx. 25 minutes). The Visitors’ Centre is aboutwell signposted.

Train: The Nearest Railway Station is 6 miles fromaway in Wolverhampton and you can complete the prison.rest Thereof arejourney regularby busesbus fromor Wolverhamptontaxi.

Shuttle cityBus: centreA tolow-cost Featherstoneshuttle villagebus butservice youis willavailable need7 days a week. To learn more about this regular service, speak to walka themember lastof mile.staff by calling: 01902 799787, or email: shuttle@restartenterprise.com

To plan your journey by public transport:

• use National Rail Enquiries
• use Traveline for local bus times

There is a free visitors car park at the prison, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.park.

TheThere Dischargeare Loungedisabled (Oakwood)visitors runspaces ain shuttleour busvisitors forcar £5 one way to the train station. Contact Featherstone to find out more.park.

Entering Featherstone

All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison.

• All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children. children
• You may also be sniffed by security dogs.
  dogs

VisitorsFor shouldsecurity, health and safety reasons, some prisons have a specific dress appropriately.code Youfor mayvisitors beand turnedothers awayhave ifa youmore arerelaxed wearingpolicy, itemsmaking likeassessments revealingon clothinga case-by-case basis. At the time we compiled this information, HMP Featherstone’s guidelines were as follows:

• modest dress
• no work clothes (including uniforms and trousers with  multiple pockets)
• no sports shirts or clothingfootball shirts
• no jumpers or shirts with hoods
• no mobile phones
• no offensive slogans.logos
• no sunglasses or headscarves unless worn for religious reasons
• no ripped jeans
• no vest tops
• no short skirts or dresses, they must be knee length

What can I bring in for my children?

You may bring in:

• dummies
• baby wipes
• nappies
• milk powder
• prescribed medication

ThereYou will be notold refreshmentsthe availablerules duringby an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.

• There are strict controls on what you can take into HMP Featherstone. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker orin withthe security.visitors’ Thiscentre includesor pushchairsin andyour car
• Each seats.

  Youadult willvisitor beis toldable theto rulesbring byin an£20 officerfor atpurchasing theof startrefreshments, ofcoins youronly. visit.Notes Ifare younot breakpermitted.

Call theour rules,visits yourcentre visitif couldyou behave cancelledany andquestions youabout couldvisiting be01902 banned70 from3254 visitingor again.email them on  Featherstone@prisonadvice.org.uk

Visiting facilities

There is a visitors centre run by Barnardo’s,PACT where there are baby changing facilities available.

ThereRefreshments willare beavailable noto refreshmentspurchase availablein duringour yourvisits visitcentre and in the children’svisits play area will not be available to use.room.

The centre is open daily, except Monday and Friday, from midday to 4:30pm.

Family days

ThereHigh areFeatherstone currentlyrun no12 family daysvisits beinga run.year. Details on how these visits run can be found by contacting the PACT team on 01902 70 3254.

Keep in touch with someone at Featherstone

There are several ways you can keep in touch with someone during their time at Featherstone.

Secure video calls

SecureTo videohave callinga issecure availablevideo atcall thiswith prison.someone Familyin andthis friendsprison willyou need toto:

• Download download the Prison Video app,app
• Create create an account,account
• Register register all visitors
• Add and add the prisoner to theiryour contact list.

How to book a secure video call

You can request a secure video call with someone in this prison via the Prison Video app.

You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.

Read more about how it works

Phone ###Phone calls

Prisoners have phones in their rooms but these can only make outgoing calls so they will always have to call you. They have to buy phone credits to do this.

They can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security when they first arrive so it may take a few days before they are able to call.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service.

Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

Email

You can send emails to someone in Featherstone using the Email a Prisoner service.

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies, depending on the rules at Featherstone.

Letters

You can write at any time.

Include the person’s name and prisoner number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prisoner number, contact Featherstone.

All post, apart from legal letters, will be opened and checked by officers.

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison.

You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.

If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption - for example if you:

• are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
• do not have a debit card

This will allow you to send money by post.

Gifts and parcels

You can only send items to people in Featherstone in exceptional circumstances. Prisoners can apply to the governor for permission.

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Friends and families of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.

For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.

Life at Featherstone

Featherstone is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where men can learn new skills to help them on release.

Security and safeguarding

Every person at Featherstone has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.

For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website.

All safeguarding processes are overseen by the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Adult Safeguarding Partnership Board.

Featherstone also trains prisoners to be ‘listeners’ for those who need support during difficult times.

Arrival and first night

When someone first arrives at Featherstone, they will be able to contact a family member by phone. This could be quite late in the evening, depending on the time they arrive. All rooms in the first night centre have phones that can be used at any time.

They will get to speak to someone who will check how they’re feeling and ask about any immediate health and wellbeing needs.

They will be checked on regularly throughout their first 24 hours at Featherstone to make sure they are supported through their induction.

Induction

Each person who arrives at Featherstone gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:

• health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
• any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
• personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training
• other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions

Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

All new prisoners will be given a key worker who will come and get to know them.

Accommodation

Around 690 men live at Featherstone across 7 house units. There is a mixture of single and shared rooms.

Facilities include a gym and library.

Education and work

Education at Featherstone is provided by Novus. They run a number of academic courses including Entry Level, Level 1 and Level 2 Maths and English and ITQ.

They also run vocational courses including:

• hospitality
• horticulture
• painting and decorating
• carpentry
• brick laying
• cleaning
• barbering

Prisoners can also complete higher level qualifications through the Open University.

There are a wide range of activities and interventions available for prisoners to develop their skills and progress through their sentence.

Featherstone also runs specialist qualifications in RMF rail track, motor vehicle and tyre fitting.

Prisoners can also work in a wide range of workshops, including industries, construction, textiles and a print shop.

Support for family and friends

FindFamily outservices aboutat adviceFeatherstone andare helplinesprovided forby family and friendsPACT.

Support at Featherstone

Families can get help and advice from the family engagement team at the visitors centre.

Problems and complaints

If you have a problem contact Featherstone.

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Featherstone in response to independent inspections.

Contact Featherstone

Governor: LauraNeil WhitehurstO’Connor

Telephone (24 hours): 01902 703 000
Fax: 01902 703 001
Find out about call charges

To contact our head of family provision please email  FamilyVisitsFeatherstone@justice.gov.uk

Address

See map

In an emergency

Call 01902 70 3000 if you have an immediate or emergency concern about the welfare of a prisoner and your concern will be passed to a senior member of staff to action.

Safer custody hotline

If you arehave concernedconcerns about the safety or wellbeing of a manprisoner inat Featherstone,HMP contactFeatherstone prison that are not an urgent or life threatening, you may call the safer custody team.hotline:

Email:Telephone: safercustody.featherstone@justice.gov.uk01902 70 3081
SaferThe custodyvoicemail hotline:is 01902checked 703081during the working day.

InYou ancan emergency,also contactread more information about safer custody concerns on the mainPrisoners switchboard.Families website.