The team - senior managers Lisette Saunders and Teresa Adams, prison custody officer Rhys Edmunds, and prison nurse Sarah New – was presented with the prestigious Butler Trust Award by the Trust’s patron HRH the Princess Royal at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

The team was recognised for its efforts in transforming the way prisoners with learning disabilities are managed and cared for, leading to the establishment of the Learning Disabilities Pathway, a unique initiative in the prison system. The aim is to help those who have the most difficulty adjusting to prison life, and since its implementation has led to reduced levels of violence, fewer confrontations with staff, fewer incidents of self-harm and segregation or removal to specialist units within the prison.

The work has been so successful that other organisations, including the National Autistic Society for example, have made fact-finding visits to Parc, and a number of representatives from other prisons are working with the team with a view to implementing something similar.

Jerry Petherick, Managing Director of G4S Custodial and Detention Services, which operates the prison on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, said:

“The staff at HMP & YOI Parc do a first rate job, and their dedication and professionalism had helped make Parc one of the highest-performing prisons in the entire prison estate, either public or private.
I am delighted that the great work Lisette, Theresa, Rhys and Sarah have done has been rewarded – it is richly deserved.”

Madeleine Moon, MP for Bridgend, said:

"I am delighted to see the four staff at Parc being recognised by the Butler Trust. This demonstrates yet again the innovative and life transforming work being undertaken on so many levels by staff at Parc Prison Bridgend."

About HMP & YOI Parc
HMP & YOI Parc in Bridgend, South Wales was the first private prison to open its doors under the Government’s PFI project. Is a category ‘B’ local prison holding 1474 sentenced and remanded adults and young offenders (18-21). In addition, there is a separate Young Persons Unit that can accommodate 64 young people (15-18). The prison, which is operated by G4S Care and Justice Services on behalf of the Ministry of Justice, is set to become the UK’s largest prison with the opening of a 387-place accommodation block in early 2015.

In October 2013 HMP &YOI Parc Parc was awarded a level 4 ‘Exceptional Performance’ Prison Rating System (PRS) score for 2012/13 by the National Offender Management Service, the highest rating possible. The prison is one of 18 of 134 prisons to receive the rating and is currently the only privately-run prison with this PRS score.

About the Butler Trust Awards
The Butler Trust Awards were launched in 1985 in memory of the former Home Secretary, RAB Butler. The Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding achievement by people working in prisons, probation/community justice and youth justice settings across the UK. For more information, visit: http://www.butlertrust.org.uk/

G4S Care & Justice Services
G4S Care & Justice Services (UK) is a pioneering provider of critical services and employs more than 5,300 people to deliver a wide range of services to central and local governments and their agencies, regulatory bodies and the private sector. Its range of services includes: adult and youth custody and rehabilitation; children's services; court services and transportation; electronic monitoring; monitoring technologies, immigration detention and accommodation, transportation and support services for asylum seekers.