“Just get on with it”: Exploring the health and wellbeing of prison operational managers and Governor grades

• In Event: PWG - (Mental) health and well-being of correctional staff

Abstract

For the past 4 years, a multi-disciplinary team of researchers at the University of Lincoln, UK and the University of Hull, UK have been exploring the state of prison governors’ health and wellbeing. In this context wellbeing can be defined as a dynamic process understood as how people feel, how they function on a personal and social level, and how they evaluate their lives as a whole. Based on semi-structured interviews with 63 prison operational managers and Governor grades, this paper discusses the research findings. Key themes of our research include not feeling valued, impact on mental and physical health, frustration over lack of autonomy, the impact of working culture and fears for the future; all of which have led some to a ‘path of disenchantment’. This paper also presents the further work now being undertaken in Scotland and Canada stemming from the initial research.

Author

• Helen Nichols, University of Hull