Werrington Young Offender Institution
Werrington is a young offender institution (YOI) in Staffordshire for children and young people aged 15 to 18.
Applies to England and Wales
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Book and plan your visit to Werrington
To visit someone in Werrington you must:
- be on that person’s visitor list
- book your visit at least 48 hours in advance
- have the required ID with you when you go
At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.
There may be a limit to the number of visits a young person can have. You can check this with Werrington.
Contact Werrington 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 Werrington
- somewhere to stay overnight
- meals
How to book family and friends visits
You can book your visit online or by telephone.
Telephone booking line: 0300 060 6508
Find out about call charges
The booking line is open:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: midday to 5pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Visiting times (for social visits):
- Monday to Thursday: 6:15pm to 7:45pm
- Saturday mornings: 9:30am to 11:45am
- Saturday afternoon: 2pm to 4:15pm
- Sunday mornings: 9:30am to 11:45am
- Sunday afternoons: 2pm to 4:15pm
There will be 10 sessions available per day lasting 90 minutes each.
How to book legal and professional visits
You can book your legal visits by telephone.
Legal visits booking line: 0300 060 6508
Find out about call charges
The booking line is open:
- Monday, Wednesday and Friday: midday to 5pm
- Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm
Visiting times:
- Friday: 9:15am to 11:45am
From Sunday 20 October visits will be:
- Wednesday: 2pm to 4pm
- Friday: 9:15am to 11:45am
There will be 10 sessions available for a duration of 90 minutes each.
Legal video visits:
- Monday to Friday: 9:15am to 10am, 10:15am to 11am, 2pm to 2:45pm and 3pm to 3:45pm
Getting to Werrington
The closest railway station is Stoke-On-Trent. From there, you can take a bus to Hanley Bus Station and change for a bus to Werrington.
To plan your journey by public transport:
There is a visitors car park, including spaces for Blue Badge holders.
Entering Werrington
All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the YOI. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a YOI.
All visitors will need to be given a pat-down search, including children.
There are strict controls on what you can take into Werrington. You will have to leave most of the things you have with you in a locker or with security. This includes pushchairs and car seats.
You will be told the rules by 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.
Family days
All young people at Werrington can have family days. These give young people a chance to spend extra time with their family and for family members to meet the Werrington team.
Contact Werrington for more information.
Keep in touch with someone at Werrington
You may not be able to speak with someone at Werrington during their first few days. This is because it can take time to approve who they can be in touch with.
Young people at Werrington have phones in their rooms so they will always need to call you rather than you call them. As a parent or carer you will be given a phone number for your young person’s caseworker (during the first week) so that you can contact them if you have concerns.
Secure video calls
To have a secure video call with someone in this YOI you need to:
- Download the Prison Video app
- Create an account
- Register all visitors
- Add the child or young person to your contact list.
How to book a secure video call
You can request a secure video call with someone in custody via the Prison Video app.
You will receive a notification when your request has been accepted.
Visit times:
- Monday to Friday: 1:45pm to 2:15pm, 2:45pm to 3:15pm and 3:45pm to 4:15pm
- Saturday and Sunday: 10am to 10:30am and 11am to 11:30am
Phone calls
Young people at Werrington have access to phones throughout the units and in their rooms and can make calls during free periods from 7:30am to 8pm.
A person in Werrington can phone anyone named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security.
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.
You can send emails to someone in Werrington using the Email a Prisoner service.
You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the child or young person, depending on the rules at Werrington.
Letters
Include the person’s name and prison number on the envelope.
If you do not know their prison number, contact Werrington.
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 custody.
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
The young people in Werrington are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Werrington for more information on what is allowed.
Make sure to include the person’s name and prison number on the parcel.
Friends and families of children and young people in custody 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 them. For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F.
All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.
Life at Werrington
Werrington is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where young people can learn new skills to help them on release.
Security and safeguarding
Every person at Werrington has a right to feel safe. The staff at Werrington 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 Werrington visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website.
Arrival and first night
When a young person first arrives at Werrington, 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.
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 also be given a pack of essentials including food and toiletries.
Induction
Each person who arrives at Werrington 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.
Accommodation
Over 100 young people live at Werrington. Everyone gets their own room and all rooms include a sink and toilet.
Behaviour
Every week the young person’s progress is assessed. This includes how they’ve treated others and whether they’ve attended education.
With good behaviour, young people can earn rewards and privileges including more money, extra visits and a television for their room.
Free time
Young people can take part in sports, fitness and youth clubs in the evenings and at the weekend.
Faith services
Young people at Werrington have access to a multi-faith chaplaincy service which offers religious services and teaching to all young people, whatever their faith.
They also provide counselling and support to young people going through difficult times.
Education
Each young person is offered 30 hours of education a week provided by The Manchester College, including 3 hours of physical education.
Subjects on offer include English, maths, business, as well as work-based subjects including painting and decorating, sports studies, barbering and training as a barista.
Young people can also gain experience as orderlies on the wings and in the kitchen, gym and laundry.
Earning money
Young people in Werrington can earn money by taking part in education.
Spending money
Young people can spend money on things like phone credits, extra food and approved items from a catalogue in their unit.
Temporary release
Young people can sometimes take part in activities outside Werrington. This is known as release on temporary licence. Young people will get a chance to discuss these opportunities with staff.
Support for family and friends
Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends.
Concerns, problems and complaints
In an emergency
Call 01782 463300 if you think a child or young person in custody is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.
| Contact category | Phone number | Additional information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-emergency | 01782 463300 | Call this number if you have concerns about a child or young person’s safety or wellbeing which is serious but not life-threatening or complete a safer custody contact form on the Prisoners’ Families Helpline website. | |
| Staff Integrity Hotline | 0800 917 6877 (24 hours answering machine) |
This number can be called anonymously. If you are concerned about a child or young person being bullied by a member of staff, you can use this number. As this line is managed separately from the YOI, you can call this number anonymously. | |
| Prisoners’ Families Helpline | 0808 808 2003 | The Prisoners’ Families Helpline can provide confidential support, advice and guidance. | |
| Unwanted Prisoner Contact | 0300 060 6699 | If a child or young person in custody is contacting you and you want them to stop, you can use the Unwanted Prisoner Contact Service. You can complete the Stop prisoner contact online form, email unwantedprisonercontact@justice.gov.uk or contact by phone. |
If you have any other problem contact Werrington.
HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Werrington in response to independent inspections.
Contact Werrington
Governor: Jasmin Steadman
Telephone (24 hours): 01782 463300
Fax: 01782 463301
Find out about call charges
Follow Werrington on Twitter/X
Address
HMYOI Werrington
Ash Bank Road
Werrington
Stoke-On-Trent
ST9 0DX
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Updates to this page
Published 29 August 2019Last updated 14 February 2024 + show all updates
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Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.
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Updated new Governor name, Jasmin Steadman
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Updated times for social and legal visits. Added time slots for legal video calls.
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Updated visiting information
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Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes
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Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.
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Updated visiting information: Reduced visit schedule and testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.
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Added link to information about testing for physical contact.
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New visiting times and booking information added.
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Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions
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Updated visiting information
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.
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Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.
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Updated: HMP Werrington visiting times and visiting procedure changes during coronavirus.
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Added confirmation of secure video calling availability at this prison.
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Prison visits update.
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First published.