Prison
Cat Women's YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
New Hall
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 16 August 2022
HMP New Hall operated under significant Covid-19 restrictions, with staff commended for their professionalism in maintaining safety. While safety metrics showed a notable increase in self-harm and use of force incidents, many were attributed to a small number of individuals and Covid-related confinement. Key areas for development include estate maintenance on Rivendell Unit and improving the quality of CSIP investigations, alongside addressing consistent prisoner complaints regarding healthcare and property.
Positive Findings
The prison demonstrated professionalism in managing Covid outbreaks, which led to a positive safety audit and commendation from Public Health England. Staff-prisoner relationships are strong, and reception procedures are well-managed, with good support for new arrivals. Healthcare provision, including mental health support, received high satisfaction, and healthcare staffing improved significantly. Positive initiatives in equality, diversity, and purposeful activity, such as the Accelerator Prisons project and in-cell technology, have been well-received.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
One unit on Rivendell is in need of major work. The windows do not open... The heating system is unreliable and difficult to control within the unit.
Safety
The report also noted that the challenge, support and intervention plan (CSIP) process is fully embedded with staff aware of it but there are some weaknesses around the quality of the investigations and the plans that need to be addressed.
Complaints/Property
The total number of complaints has increased slightly from the previous reporting year... However, there remains some uncertainty with some complainants about the role of the IMB in the overall complaints process.
Complaints/Property
The extent to which personal property is allegedly lost in transit between prisons is a regular cause for complaint.
Healthcare
The number of applications received by IMB from prisoners complaining about healthcare continues to remain constant at about one third of all apps.
Mental Health
There have been a number of women sent to New Hall from court as a place of safety. A number of case studies have been escalated to NHSE as a point of concern.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Currently, there is little incentive for achieving enhanced [incentives scheme], so the changes post-Covid will concentrate on addressing this.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Prison staff are commended for their professionalism and hard work during the pandemic. Staffing has improved significantly with turnover reducing to 10.34% and only two vacancies across all services. The key worker role is being implemented as part of OMiC reforms, with key workers for complex cases fully compliant and training planned for other staff. Additional funding and staff from the Accelerator Prisons project support resettlement.
Healthcare
Practice Plus Group effectively delivered healthcare, handling Covid testing and vaccinations, earning praise from Public Health England. The team provided over 10,000 appointments with 95.17% patient satisfaction. The Integrated Mental Health Team addresses complex needs, and plans are underway for a perinatal mental health post. Despite high satisfaction, healthcare complaints remain consistent as a third of all IMB applications, and concerns have been escalated regarding women sent from court as a place of safety.
Regime & Daily Life
The Covid-19 pandemic significantly impacted the regime, leading to periods of lockdown and increased time in cells, which was identified as a contributory factor to self-harm incidents. Despite these restrictions, the prison effectively managed outbreaks, and the introduction of in-cell telephony and increased phone credit helped maintain communication and wellbeing. Prisoners received additional educational resources during lockdowns, and the IMB noted relatively few complaints about the altered regime.
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 transfers) | 45 | 38 | |
| Adjudications | 0 | 0 | |
| Disability | 0 | 0 | |
| Finance/cash | 22 | 22 | — |
| Food | 12 | 10 | |
| Healthcare | 138 | 138 | — |
| Legal | 0 | 0 | |
| Other | 40 | 40 | — |
| Property | 50 | 45 | |
| Racism | 0 | 0 | |
| Rule 45/Segregation | 0 | 0 | |
| Staff | 20 | 25 | |
| TOTAL | 364 | 348 | |
| Visits/phone calls | 25 | 20 | |
| Work/pay/education | 12 | 10 |
Other IMB Reports for New Hall
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.