National award for prison officer

2:41pm Friday 29th February 2008

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A PRISON officer at Full Sutton is to receive a national award for his voluntary work with staff who have been through traumatic experiences.

Rex Wood, a senior officer at the top-security jail, near York, is to be presented with the Butler Trust's Paul Mason Certificate Award for Staff Care, by Princess Anne, at Buckingham Palace on Monday.

Mr Wood combines his day job as programmes manager for sex offenders and enhanced thinking skills programmes with many hours' voluntary work as a member of the staff care team.

For the past 15 years he has supported staff who have been involved in riots, deaths in custody, assaults, domestic difficulties and some who have even been taken hostage by prisoners.

Mr Wood said: "It was an honour to have received a nomination for a Butler Trust Award and doubly so to be chosen to receive one of the awards.

"I am, however, only one member of a team who provide staff support here at Full Sutton and fortunate that I currently work within a very supportive offending behaviour programmes team.

"I also believe that I am lucky to work at Full Sutton Prison, where many staff of all grades actively support each other on a day-to-day basis in a job which can at times be both difficult and challenging."

The award to Mr Wood is one of several to be presented by the Princess Royal on behalf of the Butler Trust, a charity whose annual award scheme seeks to identify and promote excellence and innovation by people who work with offenders in the UK.

A spokeswoman for the trust said: "Rex is highly respected for the tangible and sustained care which he provides to colleagues in crisis and his outstanding work over a prolonged period."

The award will be one of 42 being presented this year to prison and probation staff throughout the UK.

Sir Trevor Brooking, chairman of the Butler Trust, said: "The Butler Trust is delighted to be able to draw attention to and reward some of the wonderful and innovative ways in which prison and probation staff help offenders.

"Much of what these talented people do is challenging and often goes unseen by the general public. However, they play a crucial role in reducing re-offending rates across the UK.

"I would like to extend my personal thanks to each and every one of them."