Empowering our people: HMI Prisons at Insights25

Charlie Taylor

HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

The Insights Festivals have always been a great way to share, learn, celebrate and connect with colleagues. HMI Prisons has been involved in previous years, and we are pleased to be a part of Insights25.

We know that prisons with strong leadership and motivated, supported staff are more likely to deliver safe, respectful and purposeful regimes. That’s why the chance to come together at Insights events is so positive. It offers a great platform to share experiences and best practice. With the links this year’s theme of empowering our people establishes between staff development and well-being, it’s great to see a variety of events which offer something for everyone. I also want to reach out to those of you not working directly in the prison system, but who would like to find out more about the work we do.

HMI Prisons is holding two events this year:

• I’m looking forward to hosting a small group for a coffee and chat. This is an opportunity to tell me about your experiences of working in the prison system or being inspected, share your ideas, ask me about my priorities, and to discuss the opportunities and challenges in the sector. You can apply to be part of that group here.
• Some of my team will be telling you about our inspection processes, including our surveys, our previous move from recommendations to concerns and how our inspections and judgements should drive improvements. You can book a place at this excellent and informative session.

I hope these events help you feel inspired and empowered to develop your careers, improve outcomes for prisoners, and to help keep our communities safe.

Prior to his appointment as His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons, Charlie Taylor taught for many years in both primary and secondary schools in London. He began to specialise in supporting pupils with special educational needs and in 2005 became the headteacher of the Willows Special School (now The Willows School Academy Trust) for children with severe emotional and behavioural difficulties. He led the 2015 review into the youth justice system and made wide-ranging recommendations, including the introduction of Secure Schools, a new model for youth custody. In 2017 he became Chair of the Youth Justice Board and continued working with the Department for Education as an adviser on behaviour hubs, a new initiative to improve the ability of schools to support their most challenging pupils.

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