Introduction
Prisons are demanding environments that place significant pressure on those who work there. The complex and often stressful nature of their jobs in prisons affects the wellbeing of prison staff. To ensure a motivated and effective workforce, it is vital to understand their needs and develop strategies to support and retain them.
This workshop was designed to explore the essential theme of workplace wellbeing within prison settings, based on the EuroPris Staff Wellbeing Expert Group’s adopted framework of the Five Drivers of Workplace Wellbeing: Health, Relationships, Leadership, Environment, and Purpose. The workshop focused on developing strategies to raise awareness of the importance of staff wellbeing in the prison context and offers insights into best practice approaches to achieving a healthy and well-supported workforce. It featured a mix of keynote presentations, roundtable discussions, and practical activities aimed at encouraging reflection, knowledge exchange, and the development of actionable insights.
The content of the event was curated by the EuroPris Expert Group on Staff Wellbeing, which is currently developing an interactive digital tool on staff wellbeing in the prison context. A web-based handbook offers structured guidance across a broad range of wellbeing-related topics, including emotional resilience, communication, and leadership, supported by descriptors, practical suggestions, and real-life case studies. A diagnostic tool enables users to assess their organisation’s strengths and challenges in relation to staff wellbeing, directing them to relevant sections of the handbook for further learning and targeted improvement.
A glimpse of the digital tool was presented during the workshop, and participants were invited to provide feedback, content ideas, and suggestions for further development to ensure the tool is as relevant and practical as possible.
