Prison
Cat YOI female
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Foston Hall
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 9 May 2024
HMP/YOI Foston Hall has shown positive developments in regime provision and some safety initiatives, yet it continues to grapple with persistently high self-harm rates and increased use of force. Staffing shortages have impacted key work and overall experience levels, while healthcare faces challenges with recruitment, missed appointments, and inadequate facilities. The Board highlights significant concerns regarding accommodation decency, delays in parole and mental health transfers, and a lack of analytical focus on protected characteristics, affecting fair treatment and access to services.
Positive Findings
The IMB observes Foston Hall's focus on prisoner safety, evidenced by new initiatives and decreasing self-harm rates. The Board welcomes significant progress in lifting regime restrictions, leading to a more humane environment with resumed exercise and activities. Healthcare shows improvements in hospital appointment attendance and overnight cover, while education has experienced less disruption. Efforts to address prisoner homelessness on release are also noted.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Delays in notifying prisoners of parole decisions, arising from a backlog of cases, causes significant difficulties for prisoners and staff.
Mental Health
Repeated
The 28-day target for transfer from custody to a secure hospital was not met locally in five out of 29 cases.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
There has been continued inadequacy of accommodation in the CSU and D wing.
Safety
Repeated
Self-harm levels continue to be high.
Safety
Repeated
Listeners are being trained, but often step down, so there is limited access to Listeners.
Safety
Repeated
Challenge, support and intervention plans (CSIPs) continue to be underused and there is a high rate of ‘no further action’ following a referral. Furthermore, investigations are often not completed within 72 hours, all of which affects the level of support to prisoners.
Safety
There have been increased levels of use of force and a disproportionate use of force towards young adults.
Staffing
Repeated
Staffing issues have had an impact on the implementation of key working, as intended in the offender management in custody (OMiC) model.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Delays in prisoners accessing their property.
Complaints/Property
Prisoners do not receive responses to applications.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
What action can be taken to address the ongoing problems with heating, hot water and delays in repairs?
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
There is a lack of analysis about the impact of protected characteristics on prisoners’ access to incentives, services and activities.
Complaints/Property
The issue with the quality and timeliness of DIRFs has resulted in a lack of confidence in the process by prisoners.
Healthcare
Repeated
A significant number of healthcare appointments are missed.
Healthcare
The medication dispensing hatch remains unfit for purpose, with prisoners queuing outside in all weathers and not being assured of privacy if the queue isn’t well-managed.
Estate/Conditions
Clinical and group-work space for physical and mental healthcare and group-work space for mental healthcare is very limited.
Healthcare
Repeated
Carers for people with support needs can have long waits for escorts or even be turned away at the gate if a serious incident is in progress, leaving prisoners with unmet care needs.
Equality/Diversity
The healthcare service does not collect equalities’ data and, therefore, cannot monitor for disproportionate outcomes.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The prison has failed to monitor equalities in education, including examining whether there is disproportionate access to classes and qualifications.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
Disabled prisoners have not been able to access upper floor classrooms, which prevents their participation in the full range of education provision.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
There is not enough staff to run reliable library sessions, resulting in a lack of access by prisoners.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
How will you address the problem of prisoners being homelessness on release?
Board Commentary
Staffing
Foston Hall began the reporting year with an acute staff shortage, but numbers have since improved, exceeding target with 126 operational staff in post. However, 30 entry-level officers are in training, meaning over 50% of the officer group has less than two years' experience, increasing pressure on experienced staff. The key worker scheme, suspended in 2022, was partially reintroduced but frequently disrupted due to staffing shortages, leaving many eligible prisoners without key workers.
Healthcare
Healthcare at Foston Hall faces challenges with staff recruitment and retention, particularly in the mental health team, which has operated with reduced FTEs and no manager since September 2023. This has led to limited low-level anxiety support and a 6-8 week wait for second mental health appointments. The dispensing hatch is unfit for purpose, and inadequate accommodation for clinical and group-work space persists. A significant number of primary care and GP appointments are missed due to communication problems, frustrating prisoners and delaying health responses.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime at Foston Hall has seen considerable improvement, moving from severe restrictions due to staffing pressures to a significantly more humane environment with the resumption of exercise and activities. Despite this progress, issues remain, including cramped conditions in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) with limited exercise provision. Access to the library is inconsistent, hampered by staffing problems and recent water damage, impacting prisoners' purposeful activity.
Recommendations (22)
Ministry of Justice: 1
NHS / Healthcare Provider: 1
HMPPS: 1
Governor / Director: 19
14 repeated
Recommendation 1
Delays in notifying prisoners of parole decisions, arising from a backlog of cases, causes significant difficulties for prisoners and staff. When will this be addressed?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The 28-day target for transfer from custody to a secure hospital was not met locally in five out of 29 cases. When will action be taken to address the gaps in hospital provision?
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Mental Health
Response
Access to secure mental health accommodation is a national issue. Demand is high. A statutory limit of 28 days for transfers from prison to hospital is being monitored, and work is ongoing to improve consistency and quality.
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
There has been continued inadequacy of accommodation in the CSU and D wing. Will there be further funding to improve the quality and decency of these wings?
HMPPS
Estate
Response
Replacements for D wing and CSU remain unfunded due to competing pressures. A new portacabin provides space for healthcare admin, freeing up space for treatment, and a second portacabin provides two bespoke spaces for one-to-one interviews. Additional accommodation for healthcare administration has been created, freeing up treatment rooms.
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Self-harm levels continue to be high. What more can be done to support prisoners who harm themselves?
Governor / Director
Safety
Response
Multidisciplinary approach. Aim to keep women as active as possible. Additional operational support for early days. Analyst appointed to identify trends and themes from data. Re-introduction of key work commenced. ACCT (assessment, care in custody and teamwork document) assurance checks have improved quality.
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Listeners are being trained, but often step down, so there is limited access to Listeners. How can retention rates be improved?
Governor / Director
Safety
Response
In 2021, there were five Listeners. One prisoner responsible for large number of calls. Continue to drive availability of Listeners.
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Challenge, support and intervention plans (CSIPs) continue to be underused and there is a high rate of ‘no further action’ following a referral. Furthermore, investigations are often not completed within 72 hours, all of which affects the level of support to prisoners. How can this be addressed?
Governor / Director
Safety
Response
CSIP still bedding in. Improvement delivery plan in place. Recently appointed safety hub manager is now decision-maker, with three band 3 officers to investigate referrals and upskill staff.
Recommendation 7
There have been increased levels of use of force and a disproportionate use of force towards young adults. How can this be reduced?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Staffing issues have had an impact on the implementation of key working, as intended in the offender management in custody (OMiC) model. What action will you be taking to improve staff availability?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Response
Activity and safety were prioritised, and key work suspended in the light of staffing gaps.
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
How will you cut down on the delays in prisoners accessing their property?
Governor / Director
Regime
Response
Recent increase in staffing in reception has reduced delays.
Recommendation 10
Prisoners do not receive responses to applications. What action can be taken to make this system reliable and timely?
Governor / Director
Complaints
Recommendation 11
Repeated
Prev. addressed
What action can be taken to address the ongoing problems with heating, hot water and delays in repairs?
Governor / Director
Estate
Response
Amey impacted by reduced team due to staff shortages. Additional funding sought to replace old machines.
Recommendation 12
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
There is a lack of analysis about the impact of protected characteristics on prisoners’ access to incentives, services and activities. How can this be addressed to ensure there is no discrimination?
Governor / Director
Equality
Response
Work on equalities hampered due to resourcing issues within team. I am looking at affordability in budget.
Recommendation 13
The issue with the quality and timeliness of DIRFs has resulted in a lack of confidence in the process by prisoners. How – and when – will you address this issue to regain trust and confidence in the overall process?
Governor / Director
Complaints
Recommendation 14
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
A significant number of healthcare appointments are missed. What can be done to improve communication to prisoners about appointments and enable their attendance?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Response
Currently looking at making instructors aware of healthcare focus on missed appointments, so women can go to work and attend appointments from there.
Recommendation 15
The medication dispensing hatch remains unfit for purpose, with prisoners queuing outside in all weathers and not being assured of privacy if the queue isn’t well-managed. When will this be addressed?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 16
Clinical and group-work space for physical and mental healthcare and group-work space for mental healthcare is very limited. How can their accommodation be improved?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 17
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Carers for people with support needs can have long waits for escorts or even be turned away at the gate if a serious incident is in progress, leaving prisoners with unmet care needs. How can this be addressed?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Response
We minimise movement through the gate due to security risks at 7pm. Need to risk-assess whether we can provide later access with social care partners.
Recommendation 18
The healthcare service does not collect equalities’ data and, therefore, cannot monitor for disproportionate outcomes. When will this be addressed?
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 19
The prison has failed to monitor equalities in education, including examining whether there is disproportionate access to classes and qualifications. When will this be addressed?
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 20
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Disabled prisoners have not been able to access upper floor classrooms, which prevents their participation in the full range of education provision. When will there be a solution?
Governor / Director
Equality
Response
There is a limit to rooms available on ground floor. Prison disability lead is working with People Plus to explore options.
Recommendation 21
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
There is not enough staff to run reliable library sessions, resulting in a lack of access by prisoners. When will this be addressed?
Governor / Director
Education
Response
Team-related issues within library and vacancy in learning and skills manager post. Work taking place with wing staff to raise the profile of library slots.
Recommendation 22
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
How will you address the problem of prisoners being homelessness on release?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Response
Weekly pre-release meeting supporting action for prisoners approaching release to find accommodation. New prison employment lead in post and advisory Board chaired by Greggs to improve employment outcomes. Work-based release on temporary licence (ROTL) opportunities being explored.
Other IMB Reports for Foston Hall
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
13 Jan 2025
Unannounced
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.