Safe Heating For Probation Hostels

Contour has been involved in the re-design and refurbishment of a number of probation hostels within the UK. Their heating solutions ensure product longevity, whilst protecting users from injury and harm.

This post aims to highlight the heating design considerations when specifying radiators and other heating solutions in probation hostels.

What Are Probation Hostels?

Primarily located in various communities, probation hostels are occupied from some of the riskiest individuals as they are released from prison. Acting as a ‘halfway house’ between prison and home, they have two primary roles:

• To help rehabilitate and resettle some of our most serious offenders
• To make sure that the public are protected in the offenders’ early months in the community

According to Probation Hostels’ (Approved Premises) Contribution to Public Protection, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (2017), Probation Hostels,

“Provide a structured re-entry into the community, chiefly to those who have been released from prison following serious violent and/or sexual offences. Most hostel residents pose a high or very high risk of serious harm.

However, it is the risk of serious harm combined with complex needs that makes work with offenders in hostels challenging. Given the profile of the risk of harm for hostel residents, the great majority of these cases are managed by NPS staff.

Hostels are staffed 24 hours a day and balance care with control. They impose various constraints on residents’ freedom. These include curfews and check-in times during the day, regular drug and alcohol testing, welfare checks and room searches.

Serious breaches of a hostel’s rules or any licence requirements, or increased concerns about risk of harm to others, will lead to residents being quickly recalled to custody”.

There are several key elements that we can pull from the definition above, including:

• Inhabitants will have been found guilty of serious violent and/or sexual offenses
• Most residents pose a very high risk of serious harm
• Regular Drug and Alcohol testing
• Room searches

Anti-Ligature Solutions For Probation Hostels

From the definition above, you can see that residents are at a significant risk of harm, either to themselves or others.

In this instance, we would recommend an anti-ligature radiator or guard.

The full casing of an anti-ligature radiator/guard minimises the risk of residents securing a ligature around any component of the casing.

Specifiers should seek solutions that incorporate a 2mm diameter grille design at 4mm centres, removing the need for a separately welded mesh in the body of the guard.

Further considerations:

• Anti-ligature TRV shrouds
• Internal fixings
• A range of security fastenings – including pin-hex locks
• Anti-ligature base plates

Alongside anti-ligature radiators, you can specify a range of anti-ligature fixtures and fittings, including ventilation grilles, TV cabinets and light switch covers.

Not only do anti-ligature solutions prevent self-harm-and in some cases-suicide, but they they are often constructed with durable, tamper-proof materials, making them less vulnerable to vandalism and damage.

LST Radiators For Probation Hostels

To avoid radiator surface temperature burns (either self-inflicted or assault towards another resident), we recommend an LST radiator.

Traditional, standard panel radiators can reach temperatures of up to 70°C. When you consider the nature of the individuals housed in a probation hostel, this can pose a series of safety risks.

Further Design Considerations for LST Radiators:

• Full drop down door for easy cleaning and maintenance access
• Coated with BioCote anti-microbial technology to reduce the risk of infections
• Bullnose corners and radius edges to reduce the risk of cuts if the radiator is fallen against
• Rotary valve kits allowing the radiator to be lowered down to give access to the back wall and behind the radiator
• Pencil proof grilles to prevent large objects getting pushed through

Minimising Stash Points In Probation Hostels

As highlighted in the introduction, room searches occur regularly in probation hostels to mitigate the consumption of drugs and alcohol.

In this instance, specifiers should seek solutions that disable residents from hiding contraband in particular areas of their rooms.

We recommend that specifiers opt for radiators and guards that offer a full casing and an ‘authorised access only’ locking system for the radiator interior.

These considerations can also be applied to the pipe boxing solutions that you specify. Encapsulating any exposed pipework will minimise the risk of residents stashing illegal substances behind any pipework.

Maintaining Hygiene In Probation Hostels

Cleanliness is a key consideration in environments like this. There’s a definite need to provide a solution that’s both easy and efficient to clean, whilst doing the job thoroughly and effectively.

As previously mentioned, Contour’s anti-ligature and LST radiator’s and guards’ interior can be accessed through a unique locking system, allowing cleaning personnel to clean thoroughly and efficiently.

For the full instructions on how to clean a radiator, click here.

Antimicrobial Protection

In maintaining a hygienic environment, we recommend that you opt for a radiator or guard that contains an antimicrobial solution within the paintwork.

The use of anti-microbial coatings on metal radiator covers has become widespread in recent years, as healthcare providers demand cleaner environments for their service users. 

When specifying or buying products with anti-microbial properties, it is best practice to ask for the following information from the supplier to ensure that you are getting a product that is safe and fit for purpose in your environment.

What is the anti-microbial agent?

How does the technology work?

How often is the antimicrobial solution tested and how effective is it?

what microbes is the antimicrobial solution effective against?

How well does it work?

How long does it take to work?

You can find answers to all of these questions in our previous blog. Click here to read it.

Minimising Contamination Through Dirty Protests

We have spoken at length about the dangers associated with dirty protests in a custodial environment, but the same is true for a probation hostel.

Urine, blood, vomit and faeces-which is smeared over prison walls, floors and ceilings-is known as a ‘dirty protest’.

When a resident willingly chooses to urinate or defecate without the use of appropriate facilities, it can pose a significant health risk to other’s who are subjected to it.

Tuberculosis, HIV, and Hepatitis C are just some of the risks to prison staff and other inmates during a dirty protest where bodily fluids, including blood and faeces, are smeared across cell walls or even communal areas.

It’s therefore essential that appropriate cleaning practices are carried out safely and effectively and that an antimicrobial protection is seriously considered.

Conclusion

Acting as a halfway house between prison and the outside world, probation hostels are the ideal environment for rehabilitation.

However, the added freedom that they allow means that specifiers and designers should closely consider the safety elements associated with the products they specify.

For any further information on how you can deliver a safe probation hostel, get in touch with an expert today.

About Us

Contour produces a range of innovative, safe surface temperature systems for healthcare, education, mental health, commercial and secure sectors, working in close partnership and collaborating with architects, M&E engineers, NHS Trusts, local authorities, design consultants and contractors to deliver outstanding safe heating solutions.

Contour is the exclusive partner of BioCote® anti-microbial technology for LST and anti-ligature radiators.  BioCote® additives reduce bacteria by up to 99.9%. Contour combines an extensive range of colour-paints is with BioCote® for a durable, high-quality finish.

Contour’s heating solutions offer secure, single-person quick access to radiator guard interiors for regular deep cleaning and maintenance.  Each year, Contour save the NHS millions of pounds in cleaning costs, therefore delivering.