A women's open prison is a model establishment, despite a year of uncertainty over the way it is run, inspectors have found.

Staff and inmates at East Sutton Women’s Prison in East Sutton near Maidstone had worked together to reduce re-offending; improve integration between white and ethnic minority offenders and had little or no alcohol problems during the last year, the Independent Monitoring Board’s annual report found.

But the successes were achieved despite some unsettling changes, it said.

Chairman Margaret Davison said: “The year has been characterised by uncertainty firstly the de-clustering with Cookham Wood, near Rochester, and the subsequent but delayed clustering with Blantyre House in Goudhurst; and secondly by the appointment of yet another governor. This led to uncertainty and procedures not being as effective as they should be.”

However, she continued, commenting on the arrival of governor Jim Carmichael: “The appointment of the current governor and senior management team has not only led to stability but also to a new impetus to give the Diversity and Race Equality Action Team (D& REAT) a fresh start. The appointment of a very experienced officer, Mr David Baker as diversity manager, has led to a welcome review of all procedures and the implementation of proper controls.”

The report said more than half of the prison’s population were black or from ethnic minorities, but there had been few racial incidents during the year.

The board found that the moves to improve diversity and integration were working well, but an extra officer was needed to cope with the workload.

The report also found many instances of the women working together to help each other; they supported each other to help prevent instances of self harm and have also set up a Vision group to make sure all prisoners have housing arranged for when they are released.

Mrs Davison added: “The IMB at East Sutton Park is confident that the establishment is functioning well and that prisoners are being treated fairly and with respect.”

The report found that the relationship between the Primary Care Trust and the health care unit was “tenuous” after the departure of one member of staff, but this was being worked on, and also found a small increase in the use of Spice Gold by inmates, a legal drug with the same effects as cannabis.