Prison
Cat YOI, Resettlement
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Brinsford
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 8 March 2023
HMP/YOI Brinsford is deemed a safe prison with generally fair treatment of prisoners, showing reduced levels of self-harm and violence. Key concerns include an unfit education contract, a lack of purposeful activity, significant delays in transferring mentally ill prisoners to specialist care, and the poor condition of the estate and IT infrastructure. The key worker scheme also requires improvement to return to pre-pandemic effectiveness.
Positive Findings
The Board found Brinsford to be a safe prison where staff generally treat prisoners fairly. There has been good progress in reducing self-harm and violence, with staff credited for their hard work. Healthcare provision by Practice Plus Group is well-managed, and the multi-faith centre is a positive, supportive environment. Improvements were noted in laundry services and the prison kitchen holds a five-star hygiene rating, contributing to a more comfortable and well-supported environment for prisoners.
Key Concerns
Other
Repeated
Prisoners held under Immigration Act powers are kept far too long before transfer to an immigration removal centre or their home country.
Mental Health
Repeated
The amount of time taken to transfer the more vulnerable prisoners with mental health problems is another concern raised regularly. Officers within the inpatient health care are very supportive and compassionate to their patients, however they are not specialist-trained in mental health. Some inpatients have been based in the unit for months before being transferred to more specialist accommodation.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The education contract is still not fit for purpose. It has always proved very difficult to hold the provider to account, to ensure that the prison gets good education provision. As mentioned in last year’s report, any new contracts need to be much tighter in what must be provided and how prisons can be compensated for services not provided. Not enough is done to motivate or support prisoners to attend regularly or consistently.
Other
Repeated
The management of prisoner property in the establishment and the transfer of property between establishments continue to cause many problems, including prisoner anger and claims for compensation. A new policy and procedure have been many years in the development stage and need to be implemented urgently.
Estate/Conditions
The information technology (IT) at Brinsford is old and failing. While improvements were being discussed and due to be implemented in the 2022-23 reporting year, it needs to be noted that improvements are desperately needed. Hopefully the improvements and investments will improve many outcomes for staff and prisoners.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The overall condition of Brinsford is still very outdated and in a poor state. Previous improvements and decoration have been completed to a poor standard, with only short-term solutions. The prison has tried to engage some prisoners in painting (e.g. in the care and separation unit), however the work was not to the standard required. Brinsford still needs a great deal of investment to return it to an acceptable standard.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Activity places are limited and not meaningful. Now Brinsford is a resettlement prison it is even more important that every prisoner has the opportunity to work or have education.
Other
Repeated
There are still too many transfers between establishments. Brinsford has often been very accommodating and supportive in receiving transfers into the prison. Brinsford staff still feel that when a prisoner needs to be moved urgently, it seems to be very difficult to find a place elsewhere.
Safety
Repeated
Bringing in some prisoners from other establishments makes the gang problem more difficult to manage, although it needs to be understood that these moves must be in the best interests of the prisoner concerned.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
More places are needed in both education and work-based activities. More meaningful work would better prepare prisoners for work that they are likely to acquire when released. Quicker entry onto courses would make a big difference to short-sentence prisoners and would provide a better way forward.
Staffing
Repeated
The key worker scheme needs to be brought back to at least its pre-pandemic levels, and further improved. It was understandably reduced owing to staff shortages. Officers need support and, possibly, further training to get the scheme to work as it should, to support prisoners.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Brinsford benefits from low staff attrition and sickness rates compared to similar establishments, and significant efforts are made for staff wellbeing, including a 'care room' and wellbeing days. However, staff absences due to Covid-19 have intermittently impacted the effective delivery of the key worker scheme, which remains an area of concern requiring support and potential further training for officers to restore it to pre-pandemic levels.
Healthcare
Practice Plus Group provides good healthcare services at Brinsford, and the prison managed Covid-19 outbreaks effectively. While staff provide excellent care for prisoners with mental health issues, there is a persistent concern about the excessive time it takes to transfer individuals requiring specialist mental health beds to external treatment centres, with some inpatients remaining in the unit for months. Prisoners also raised issues with long waiting times for optical and dental appointments.
Regime & Daily Life
Following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, Brinsford has largely returned to a core day regime, increasing time out of cells and access to outdoor exercise and association. However, activity places remain insufficient, leading to underemployment and a lack of purposeful activity for many prisoners. Occasional Covid-19 outbreaks and associated staff absences continued to disrupt the full implementation of the regime, impacting prisoners' time out of cells.
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 | 38 | 45 | |
| Discipline | 4 | 5 | |
| Family/Visits | 10 | 12 | |
| Food | 2 | 2 | — |
| Healthcare | 15 | 22 | |
| Other | 36 | 32 | |
| Property | 35 | 31 | |
| Work/Education | 24 | 18 |
Recommendations (11)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 7
Governor / Director: 2
10 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prisoners held under Immigration Act powers are kept far too long before transfer to an immigration removal centre or their home country.
Ministry of Justice
Other
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The amount of time taken to transfer the more vulnerable prisoners with mental health problems is another concern raised regularly. Officers within the inpatient health care are very supportive and compassionate to their patients, however they are not specialist-trained in mental health. Some inpatients have been based in the unit for months before being transferred to more specialist accommodation.
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The education contract is still not fit for purpose. It has always proved very difficult to hold the provider to account, to ensure that the prison gets good education provision. As mentioned in last year’s report, any new contracts need to be much tighter in what must be provided and how prisons can be compensated for services not provided. Not enough is done to motivate or support prisoners to attend regularly or consistently.
HMPPS
Education
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The management of prisoner property in the establishment and the transfer of property between establishments continue to cause many problems, including prisoner anger and claims for compensation. A new policy and procedure have been many years in the development stage and need to be implemented urgently.
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 5
The information technology (IT) at Brinsford is old and failing. While improvements were being discussed and due to be implemented in the 2022-23 reporting year, it needs to be noted that improvements are desperately needed. Hopefully the improvements and investments will improve many outcomes for staff and prisoners.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The overall condition of Brinsford is still very outdated and in a poor state. Previous improvements and decoration have been completed to a poor standard, with only short-term solutions. The prison has tried to engage some prisoners in painting (e.g. in the care and separation unit), however the work was not to the standard required. Brinsford still needs a great deal of investment to return it to an acceptable standard.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Activity places are limited and not meaningful. Now Brinsford is a resettlement prison it is even more important that every prisoner has the opportunity to work or have education.
HMPPS
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
There are still too many transfers between establishments. Brinsford has often been very accommodating and supportive in receiving transfers into the prison. Brinsford staff still feel that when a prisoner needs to be moved urgently, it seems to be very difficult to find a place elsewhere.
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Bringing in some prisoners from other establishments makes the gang problem more difficult to manage, although it needs to be understood that these moves must be in the best interests of the prisoner concerned.
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 10
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
More places are needed in both education and work-based activities. More meaningful work would better prepare prisoners for work that they are likely to acquire when released. Quicker entry onto courses would make a big difference to short-sentence prisoners and would provide a better way forward.
Governor / Director
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 11
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The key worker scheme needs to be brought back to at least its pre-pandemic levels, and further improved. It was understandably reduced owing to staff shortages. Officers need support and, possibly, further training to get the scheme to work as it should, to support prisoners.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Other IMB Reports for Brinsford
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
5 Jun 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.