Prison
Cat B training
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Dovegate
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 7 March 2024
HMP Dovegate, a Category B training prison managed by Serco, reported a generally calm and settled environment with good staff-prisoner relationships. Key challenges include persistent long waiting times for mental health transfers and dental appointments, along with concerns about lost prisoner property during transfers and staffing shortages affecting healthcare and education. The Board highlighted the need for improved strategies for IPP prisoners and more secure mental health spaces.
Positive Findings
The Board observed wings being calm and settled with good staff-prisoner relationships. There was a programme of painting and floor replacement, and new hot food trolleys were purchased, improving food temperature. Prisoners reported that HMP Dovegate is a good prison, and the quality of key work has improved. The multifaith team is proactive, and the inspire incentive scheme rewards good behaviour. The complaints system is efficiently run, and input from psychology in the CSU has improved the management of complex cases. Time out of cell is good, and the Therapeutic Community remains a calm and progressive place for prisoners.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
There are still a number of IPP prisoners at HMP Dovegate and one of the deaths in custody was immediately prior to the IPP prisoner’s sentence hearing. A clear strategy on how IPP prisoner can progress to release is much needed.
Mental Health
The number of secure mental health spaces available is not adequate for the number of seriously mentally ill prisoners. Funding for more spaces is desperately required.
Overcrowding
Repeated
The number of remand prisoners at HMP Dovegate has increased further since the last reporting period, and some have been on remand over 12 months, with no court date yet given. A focus on clearing the back log of court appearance for remand prisoners would be beneficial.
Other
Prisoners’ property continues to be lost in transit on a regular basis.
Overcrowding
Population pressures are increasing the number of incidents, so more community based sentences are needed.
Staffing
Ensure there is enough staff to make sure all health care appointments are attended.
Staffing
Continuity and stability of staff in the CSU would help to ensure Rule 45 GOoD reviews and paperwork are available on time, and give those prisoners held there the support they need.
Healthcare
It is important there is a medical prescriber in Reception for out of standard hours arrivals, to ensure prisoners get the medication they need on their first night.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Focus on improving both education and workshop activities for all prisoners.
Staffing
Continue to train and develop the inexperienced staff to maintain a safe and respectful working environment for all.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff-prisoner relationships are generally good, and an increased focus has been placed on improving the quality of key work. However, there are staffing shortages, particularly in mental health and education, leading to longer wait times for routine referrals and impacting the delivery of courses. Continuity and stability of staff in the Care and Separation Unit (CSU) is a concern, affecting the timely completion of Rule 45 reviews and paperwork. The Board recommends continued training and development for inexperienced staff, and notes that low staffing levels contribute to delays in sentence-planning documents.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision at Dovegate faces several challenges, including ongoing delays for routine secondary healthcare appointments and significantly long waiting times for transfer to secure mental health establishments. Dental waiting times are noted as particularly poor, with emergency appointments exacerbating the backlog. While in-person appointments generally occur and internal waiting times seem reasonable (except dental), there is no overnight mental health provision, despite mental health being the primary reason for healthcare unit admissions. Staffing shortages in the mental health team contribute to longer waits for routine referrals, and hospital escorts, despite increasing, are frustrated by external hospital waiting times and cancellations.
Regime & Daily Life
The daily regime at Dovegate sees wings described as calm and settled, with good time out of cell due to consistent staffing levels. Accommodation has seen improvements with painting, floor replacement, and renovated communal showers. While new hot food trolleys improved temperature, the quality of food has reportedly slightly reduced due to a move to a single supplier and increased costs. There is an increased focus on improving the quality of key work and a review of purposeful activities has led to improvements in work placements. Afternoon education has returned to the Therapeutic Community.
Applications to the IMB
Prisoners can apply to their IMB about any aspect of their treatment. This table shows application counts by category.
| Category | Current | Previous | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 12 | 6 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 1 | 6 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 5 | 1 | |
| Equality | 2 | 3 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 15 | 10 | |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | 4 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 34 | 45 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 19 | 12 | |
| Miscellaneous | 2 | 21 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 21 | 28 | |
| Property within the establishment | 28 | 18 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 5 | 7 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC (Home Detention Curfew), ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 16 | 5 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 14 | 6 | |
| Transfers | 1 | 3 |
Recommendations (10)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 5
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
There are still a number of IPP prisoners at HMP Dovegate and one of the deaths in custody was immediately prior to the IPP prisoner’s sentence hearing. A clear strategy on how IPP prisoner can progress to release is much needed.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
The number of secure mental health spaces available is not adequate for the number of seriously mentally ill prisoners. Funding for more spaces is desperately required.
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 3
Repeated
The number of remand prisoners at HMP Dovegate has increased further since the last reporting period, and some have been on remand over 12 months, with no court date yet given. A focus on clearing the back log of court appearance for remand prisoners would be beneficial.
Ministry of Justice
Regime
Recommendation 4
Prisoners’ property continues to be lost in transit on a regular basis. Management of the system from a national lead would have a major impact on reducing this problem.
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 5
Population pressures are increasing the number of incidents, so more community based sentences are needed.
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 6
Ensure there is enough staff to make sure all health care appointments are attended.
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 7
Continuity and stability of staff in the CSU would help to ensure Rule 45 GOoD reviews and paperwork are available on time, and give those prisoners held there the support they need.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 8
It is important there is a medical prescriber in Reception for out of standard hours arrivals, to ensure prisoners get the medication they need on their first night.
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 9
Focus on improving both education and workshop activities for all prisoners.
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 10
Continue to train and develop the inexperienced staff to maintain a safe and respectful working environment for all.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Other IMB Reports for Dovegate
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
18 Sep 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 3
Activity: 1
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.
Prevention of Future Deaths Reports
Coroner PFD reports issued to this establishment.