1. WHERE ARE WE GOING AND HOW DO WE GET THERE?
A look at SWOT analysis and how it is used at HMP Isle of Wight

2. What is a SWOT analysis? Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
Can help you to look beyond the day-to-day frustrations and plan for the future

3. Strengths
What are your library’s strongest contribution to your prison?
What does your library do or provide that no one else can in your prison?
What do your users like best about your library?

4. Weaknesses
In what areas does your library have fewer resources than you need?
What needs improvement?
What do your users wish you did better?

5. Opportunities
What would you do if your library had sufficient resources?
What is currently happening in the community or world that you would like to take advantage of for your library?
How can your strengths create opportunities for your library?

6. Threats
What is happening in the community or world that could have a negative impact on your library?
What competition does your library face?
What weaknesses leave you vulnerable to cuts or reductions in your service?

7. Build An Action Plan! How can you build on your strengths?
How can you turn your weaknesses into strengths?
How can you take advantage of your opportunities?
How can you turn your threats into opportunities?

8. SWOT at HMP Isle of Wight
At QIG, we are encouraged to update our SARs monthly as working documents.
Our education provider’s area OLASS director suggested SWOT as a useful tool for smaller non-OLASS provision such as libraries. It can be tricky making non-OLASS provision fit into the main prison SAR as we don’t have learners.

9. The Activities Dashboard
A large part of QIG is discussion of the Activities Dashboard; an “at a glance” guide to how the activities function is performing.
The information from all Activities areas is summarised to ensure ease when monitoring the performance of the prison and in relation to each SLA. By using the dashboard it enables us to identify issues immediately and put in place relevant plans to overcome them. This also assists us in monitoring our compliance with the PSIs.
The library SWOT and SAR feed into the Activities Dashboard.

10. HMP Isle of Wight, Albany Library SWOT Analysis
Strengths
weaknesses
Central & Accessible Location
Good, Stable Team of Staff
Timetable Works Well With Regime
Good Relationships With Other Departments
Fair Access For Employed & Unemployed
Reading Groups & Prison Reading Group Project
Senior Citizens’ Groups
Literacy & Numeracy Activities (Puzzles, Activity Packs, etc)
Greeting Cards & Poetry Help Maintain Family Links
Cell-Bound Disabled Service
IHU Service
Orderly Training
Induction for Prisoners and Staff
Prison staff Awareness of Timetable & Services
Institutional Appearance
Limited Space
Tired Fittings
Homemade, Awkward Counter
Excessively Hot Temperature
Leaking Walls
External Signage
Electrical & Cabling Issues
Library Section on Education Needs Analysis Did Not Give The Data We Had Hoped For
Stock Loss On Transfer, Discharge & Site-Site Moves
Less flexibility in staffing hours
Stock loss – HB 15 fire
OPPORTUNITES
THREATS
Support For The Shannon Reading Plan
Recruitment of Book Group Members
Expansion of Orderly Training
Promote Services & Timetable
Build Links With More Departments & Staff
Review & Build on Books on Prescription
6 Book Challenge in Collaboration with Education
World Book Night
Reduce Stock Loss
One Prison, One Book
Promote Library Services Within Re-Loaded Magazine
Regime Closures (Meetings, Training Days)
Wing Closures
Competition for customers with other activity areas, gym, visits, etc
Early/Late Movement To/From Activities
Requirements of PSI
Long Term Future
Changes to the Regime – New Profile

11. Albany Library’s QIG Action Plan From SWOT
Work with Education department to launch 6 Book Challenge in February 2015.
Continually monitor access, the library timetable and staff rota. Implement new timetable and rota for new profile on 16th March 2015.
Maureen Franklin to deliver Wheelchair Pushing course to library orderlies by end of April 2015.
Review procedures for books on prescription with PMHCT Outreach team – complete by April 2015.
Distribute World Book Night Books in April 2015.
Distribute One Prison, One Book Quick Reads in April 2015.
Annual Library Users’ Survey – May 2015.
Consult with MPQL reps and Prison Council on Survey Results – June 2015.
Liaise with The Shannon Reading Plan officer to support “Turning The Page” – June 2015
Write Albany, HMP Isle of Wight Prison Libraries Stock Policy in consultation with all interested parties.
Distribute Christmas Activity Pack in December 2015.
Promote awareness of the timetable and correct access arrangements to all staff.
Continue to monitor stock to ensure it meets the needs of the population.
Work with residence and reception to implement new procedures to minimise stock loss on discharge, transfer and site-site moves.
Continue to build on links with other departments so that links survive staff movements.
Find alternative ways of promoting the book groups to ensure we have a ready supply of new members.
Continue to engage with HMPS, Isle Of Wight Council, staff and prisoners to embrace change and find new ways of working.

12. Your SWOT is a working document that should be updated as your service changes.

13. Group Work Identify some Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

14. Group Work Turn your Weaknesses into Strengths
Group Work Turn your Weaknesses into Strengths. Turn your Opportunities into Threats.