Prison
Cat D
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Standford Hill
IMB Annual Report 2023 · Published 19 September 2023
HMP/YOI Standford Hill is recognized as a well-run Category D prison, excelling in resettlement and providing substantial opportunities for prisoners to gain skills and employment, contributing to low re-offending rates. The prison maintains a safe environment with zero reported self-harm, assaults, or deaths in custody during the reporting period, and healthcare provision has significantly improved. Key concerns include the persistent poor performance of GFSL, the potential negative impact of the TPRS on resettlement, and the need for scanning equipment and modern monitoring technology.
Positive Findings
HMP/YOI Standford Hill is a well-run prison with substantial achievements, particularly in resettlement, working-out, training, and education, which significantly reduces re-offending rates. The prison maintains low levels of violence, self-harm, and deaths in custody. Staff sickness rates have notably improved, positively affecting the regime. The physical and mental healthcare provided by Oxleas NHS Trust is very good and well co-ordinated, including new weekend provision.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The performance of Gov Facility Services Ltd (GFSL) remains unsatisfactory, with slow maintenance response times, bureaucratic procedures, and specific problems noted for laundry machine repairs.
Resettlement/Release
The Temporary Presumptive Recategorisation Scheme (TPRS) could result in a dilution of the resettlement work undertaken by Category D prisons and a reduction in prisoners involved in the Working Out Scheme (WOS).
Safety
The lack of scanning equipment at Standford Hill makes preventing illicit items very difficult due to the prison's open boundaries and fluid population, despite spare scanners existing within the prison estate.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The monitoring of prisoners on Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) and the Working Out Scheme (WOS) could be made much more effective by commercially available technological solutions, which are not yet approved by the Prison Service.
Other
There is a lack of formal sharing of best practice and comparative information between Category D prisons, hindering the wider benefit of Standford Hill's achievements and procedures.
Food/Catering
There is a lot of dissatisfaction with the quality and variety of food provision, despite portion size generally being considered adequate.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Sporadic internet facilities continue, with no improvement noted in the year.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The overall condition of much of the property remains the same despite some maintenance being carried out.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Substantial efforts have been made to reduce staff sickness rates, with a significant improvement from 18.34 days in 2021/22 to 12.08 days in 2022/23, now below the regional average. Relationships between staff and prisoners are appropriate, respectful, and effective, creating an overwhelmingly positive atmosphere on the wings. Officers are experienced in interacting with prisoners.
Healthcare
Healthcare has seen substantial improvements after Covid, with Oxleas NHS Trust taking over the contract in April 2022. An integrated model of care, led by a Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator, ensures linked assessments and interventions. Primary care services, including a sub-contracted substance misuse service by CGL, are well-coordinated. Weekend provision has been introduced, and applications to the Board regarding healthcare have been low.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime benefits from improved staff sickness rates and a generally acceptable accommodation standard, including new en-suite pods. Over 100 prisoners are regularly out in paid employment, and the full education curriculum has been restored. However, the monitoring of prisoners on Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) and the Working Out Scheme (WOS) could be made more efficient with technological solutions that are not yet approved by the Prison Service.
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 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 3 | 0 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 4 | 0 | |
| Equality | 3 | 0 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 8 | 0 | |
| Food and kitchens | 5 | 1 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 4 | 3 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 2 | 0 | |
| Miscellaneous | 3 | 0 | |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 7 | 0 | |
| Property within the establishment | 1 | 0 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 5 | 3 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 8 | 6 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 4 | 0 | |
| Transfers | 0 | 0 |
Recommendations (9)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 5
Governor / Director: 2
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Are there any plans to review the performance of the service provided by GFSL?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 2
Will a formal review of the impact be carried out?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Is the Prison Service satisfied with the performance of GFSL?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
Is a formal review planned about the effect of TPRS on the resettlement work done in Category D prisons?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 5
Will the Prison Service provide the resources to allow for this equipment to be installed in Standford Hill?
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Will the Prison Service allow such equipment to be used within Standford Hill?
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 7
Will the Prison Service facilitate more formal sharing of best practice between Category D prisons?
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 8
Will it be possible to improve staff sickness rates further while maintaining a compassionate working environment?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 9
Repeated
We assume that this focus will continue into the next reporting period?
Governor / Director
Estate
Other IMB Reports for Standford Hill
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
8 Oct 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 3
Activity: 4
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.