Jump to 52 Recommendations

Independent Investigation into Concerns about Brook House Immigration Removal Centre

Immigration Detention
Published 01 Dec 2018
Commissioned By G4S
Subject G4S
Investigator Verita

Independent investigation commissioned by G4S into concerns about the treatment of detainees at Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, conducted by Kate Lampard and Ed Marsden of Verita.

Report PDF Source
Acceptance Status
No Response Published 52
Total Recommendations 52
About this data

Acceptance Status tracks whether the responsible body accepted or responded to each recommendation.

These are independent investigations into detention conditions, including immigration removal centres and prisons.

Recommendations (52)

R1 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT should be more present in the centre and should consider how they can better engage with staff. (To be completed as a matter of urgency)
R10 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT should undertake unannounced observation of training sessions as part of the evaluation and quality assurance of training. (To be completed within 3 months)
R11 G4S managers
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S managers should agree with the Home Office ways that recruits in training can be given early and regular opportunities to experience the environment at times when the detainees are at large in Brook House. (To be completed within 3 months)
R12 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT should consider giving trainees the opportunity to view body camera images of incidents recorded at Brook House. (To be completed within 6 months)
R13 G4S and the SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S and the SMT should ensure that all staff receive annual refresher training in a timely way. (To be completed within 3 months)
R14 Managers at Gatwick IRCs
No Response Published
Recommendation
Managers at Gatwick IRCs should undertake a full review of the training needs of existing staff, including needs identified in individual EDRs, and should ensure that the annual refresher training programme and specialist further training meet those needs. (To be … Read more
R15 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT should ensure that staff dealing regularly with detainees with mental health problems or with drugs or other substance misuse issues receive specialist training. (To be completed within 3 months)
R16 SMT and DCMs at Brook House
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT and DCMs at Brook House must ensure that all staff are subject to an effective annual appraisal process that results in identifying and addressing training and other developmental needs. (To be completed within 3 months)
R17 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT must design and implement as a matter of urgency purposeful and better-resourced education, activities and entertainments programmes. (To be completed as a matter of urgency)
R18 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT should ensure that teachers at Brook House, including the arts and crafts teachers, have ready access to the equipment and resources to provide worthwhile programmes for detainees. (To be completed within 3 months)
R19 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT should reinstate the cultural kitchen. (To be completed as a matter of urgency)
R2 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT must ensure that DCMs are given adequate training to fulfil the tasks and responsibilities of their role. (To be completed as a matter of urgency)
R20 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT should consider whether it is possible to provide detainees in paid work with opportunities to gain qualifications. (To be completed within 6 months)
R21 SMT and staff
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT and staff must enforce the ban on smoking inside Brook House. (To be completed within 3 months)
R22 SMT and residential DCMs
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT and residential DCMs must ensure that adequate numbers of staff are on duty throughout the service of meals to ensure orderly queues and service of meals. (To be completed within 3 months)
R23 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT must resolve the issue of the inadequate cleaning of the wings either by agreeing with that it will undertake the cleaning of wings or by ensuring that wing orderlies keep wings to an acceptable standard of cleanliness throughout … Read more
R24 Residential DCMs
No Response Published
Recommendation
Residential DCMs must hold staff to account for ensuring wings are maintained at an acceptable standard cleanliness. (To be completed within 3 months)
R25 Residential DCMs and wing staff
No Response Published
Recommendation
Residential DCMs and wing staff should ensure that all detainees have access to cleaning products to clean their rooms, including washbasins and toilets. (To be completed within 3 months)
R26 G4S managers and the SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S managers and the SMT should: • improve the environment in the reception area at Brook House and make it more welcoming; • consider how all new arrivals can be interviewed in privacy; and • agree with the Home Office … Read more
R27 G4S
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S should amend its induction policy to make it clear that a detainee posing a risk of any significant violence to others will be justification for accommodating the detainee in a single occupancy room. (To be completed within 3 months)
R28 G4S
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S should work with the Home Office to ensure that all time-served foreign national offenders arriving at Brook House are accompanied by prison escort records that identify matters affecting their risk profile. (To be completed as a matter of urgency) Read more
R29 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT must ensure that all prison files of time-served foreign national offenders are examined for relevant security information, including risk profiles, in a timely fashion. (To be completed as a matter of urgency)
R3 G4S managers
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S managers should work with DCMs undertaking training to ensure a common understanding of requirements of that training and how much time DCMs will be given away from operational duties as study leave. (To be completed within 3 months)
R30 SMT and DCMs
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT and DCMs must ensure continued adherence to the induction policy. (To be completed as a matter of urgency)
R31 G4S and the SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S and the SMT should ensure that the welfare team is adequately staffed at all times. (To be completed within 3 months)
R32 G4S and the SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S and the SMT should ensure that the welfare team has the technological and administrative support it needs. (To be completed within 6 months)
R33 G4S and the SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S and the SMT should consider with the Home Office the possibility of providing the welfare team with training in immigration processes. (To be completed within 6 months)
R34 G4S and the SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S and the SMT should ensure that the welfare staff at Brook House should develop links with charities and other organisations able to support detainees with resettlement overseas. (To be completed within 3 months)
R35 Residential DCMs
No Response Published
Recommendation
The residential DCMs should ensure that ACDT case reviews are conducted by DCMs accompanied by a DCO acquainted with the detainee whose case they are assessing. (To be completed within 3 months)
R36 Residential DCMs
No Response Published
Recommendation
Residential DCMs responsible for ACDT case management should receive regular refresher training. (To be completed within 3 months)
R37 G4S
No Response Published
Recommendation
The age dispute policy should be amended to make explicit that it is the duty of staff members who have any cause to believe that a detainee is under age to report it to a manager or ensure that it has been reported. (To be completed within 3 months)
R38 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT must ensure that staff are trained in the management of age dispute cases. (To be completed within 3 months)
R39 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT, in consultation with the local safeguarding boards, should review and redraft the safeguarding policy to ensure that it: • has a clear and easy-to-follow scheme and does not contain errors in drafting and meaning; • makes clear to … Read more
R4 SMT at Gatwick IRCs
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT at Gatwick IRCs must review arrangements for providing care and support to staff and ensure that they have ready access to a care service they trust. (To be completed within 3 months)
R40 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT in consultation with the local safeguarding boards must ensure that all staff receive appropriate annual safeguarding refresher training. (To be completed within 3 months)
R41 Healthcare
No Response Published
Recommendation
Healthcare should agree with how cleaning must be improved and how these new standards are adopted and maintained. Healthcare facilities should be deep-cleaned at least twice yearly. (To be completed as a matter of urgency)
R42 G4S Health Services
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S Health Services should develop a career pathway for nurses working in Care and Justice. This should be accompanied by the development of customised training materials. (To be completed within 3 months)
R43 Healthcare and G4S management
No Response Published
Recommendation
Healthcare and G4S management should ensure that nurses involved in control and restraint understand their role and responsibilities. This should be as part of their induction and refreshed yearly. (To be completed within 3 months)
R44 G4S and the Home Office
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S and the Home Office should discuss relocating the Forward Trust’s office at Brook House so that detainees have ready access to it. (To be completed within 3 months)
R45 G4S and the Home Office
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S and the Home Office must ensure that robust, full-length electronic turnstiles are installed at the entrance to the residential wings as soon as possible. (To be completed within 3 months)
R46 SMT and safeguarding team
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT and safeguarding team should ensure that all incidents of violence and bullying at Brook House are investigated in a timely way. (To be completed as a matter of urgency)
R47 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT should undertake a programme of awareness-raising among staff to improve their understanding and use of the anti-bullying policy. (To be completed within 3 months)
R48 Safeguarding team
No Response Published
Recommendation
The safeguarding team should survey staff at Brook House regularly to ascertain their experience of and perspective on violence and bullying and its causes. (To be completed within 6 months)
R49 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT with the violence reduction manager should undertake a development programme with staff to: • develop their confidence and skills in dealing with disruptive detainees; and • improve their awareness and understanding of the anti-disruption policy and how it … Read more
R5 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT should ensure staff have time for debriefing and reflecting about serious incidents in which they have been involved and an opportunity to learn from them. (To be completed as a matter of urgency)
R50 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT must ensure regular and timely review of all use-of-force incidents by appropriately trained staff and that regular meetings take place, involving the SMT, dedicated to considering matters arising from use-of-force incidents and to ensuring that any concerns are … Read more
R51 SMT and G4S managers
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT and G4S managers should review the policy and arrangements for raising concerns and their own handling of such matters to ensure that they encourage and support staff to report wrongdoing or misconduct or inappropriate behaviour by colleagues and … Read more
R52 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT should ensure that a single log is kept of all allegations or instances of misconduct by staff and the actions taken in respect of them. (To be completed within 3 months)
R6 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT should urgently ensure that Brook House is fully staffed. (To be completed as a matter of urgency)
R7 G4S managers
No Response Published
Recommendation
G4S managers should undertake a comprehensive review of matters affecting staff retention at Brook House including remuneration, shift patterns and working hours and G4S needs to develop plans to address the matters arising from such a review. (To be completed … Read more
R8 SMT
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT must ensure that all trainers are appropriately trained in the subject on which they deliver training and in how to deliver training. (To be completed within 3 months)
R9 SMT and G4S managers
No Response Published
Recommendation
The SMT and G4S managers should undertake regular and systematic evaluation and quality assurance of the training provided at Gatwick IRCs to ensure that staff receive training of a consistently high standard; that it meets the operational needs of the … Read more