Castle Huntly has been declared to be ”functioning well” after the closure of Noranside last year.
Delivering his inspection report on Tuesday, HM Chief Inspector of Prisons Brigadier Hugh Monro said the two prisons had ”assimilated” well despite inevitable challenges.
Brigadier Monro said more needed to be done to prepare prisoners for life beyond the open estate, particularly more training and education in the prison itself.
”It is clear that the principal offender outcome activity is work placements in the community and that other activities within the prison are relatively limited,” he said.
Among the on-site training Brigadier Monro wants to see is all-season work as well as helping prisoners access jobs on release.
He said: ”The question is clearly what do you do throughout the 12 months of the year? There’s access to outside and gardens but there needs to be more work within buildings so you can do that in the winter too.
“There are a number of trades you can learn, whether that be painting and decorating or plastering. I would like to see this vocational training coming up, not just how to work but how to get work, how to write a CV.”
Other issues highlighted in the report included the relationship between staff and prisoners.
The summary of the inspection, which was carried out in April, states relationships are good and prisoners are treated with respect by members or staff.
It said, however, that when staff emphasise bad behaviour could result in a return to closed conditions, prisoners often interpret that as a threat.
Brigadier Monro said: ”I would like to see a greater feeling of trust.”
One case of too much trust between a prisoner and warden that hit the headlines was the trial of Christine Robertson.
Robertson, a warden, was jailed in May after she was found guilty of harbouring criminal James Holland when he escaped from Castle Huntly.
Brigadier Monro said he could not comment on individual cases but said good management would ensure there were checks and avenues for complaints.
The inspection also found the open estate was ”safe” and that the number of absconds has dropped.
In 2007/8 there were 66 absconds from the prison but that fell to 12 last year.
Brigadier Monro said while there was still work to be done it was clear to him that the prison’s future was secure.