Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Erlestoke
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 8 August 2022
The report covers HMP Erlestoke from April 2021 to March 2022, a period significantly impacted by Covid-19 restrictions that limited out-of-cell time. Despite challenges like staff shortages and high turnover, the Board found prisoners to be relatively safe, though violence increased and self-harm remained high. Key concerns include delays in transfers, inadequate mental health provision, and the slow pace of infrastructure improvements.
Positive Findings
The Board commends the chaplaincy, library, education, and gym staff for their proactive and innovative work, along with the Listeners for their resilience and compassion. Significant improvements were noted in GFSL site maintenance, with a drastic reduction in works order backlog and successful completion of major projects. The installation of in-cell telephones was a positive step, greatly appreciated by prisoners. Healthcare demonstrated flexibility during the pandemic, and the Drug Recovery Community continues to develop successfully.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
What immediate solution can be offered to those prisoners desperate to move on with their sentence plan but who have been waiting to transfer to category D prisons, some for more than two years?
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
What targets have been set to reduce the number of IPP prisoners so some hope can be given to such prisoners at Erlestoke, over 10% of the population, several of whom are many years over their original sentence tariff?
Mental Health
What plans exist to address the chronic national shortage of accommodation for those prisoners with complex mental health needs who cannot be adequately cared for in a normal prison environment?
Food/Catering
When will the daily food budget allowance set over five years ago be reviewed, given that food prices have risen more than 20% over the past two years?
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
What is the revised timetable for completing the replacement of the residential wings, given there have been several delays and missed deadlines, so prisoners can benefit from the progression regime being in one location?
Overcrowding
How will the Prison Service ensure the infrastructure and support mechanisms are enhanced to cope with the increase in the population of the prison when Kennet and Avebury wings are functioning?
Safety
What actions will be taken to ensure cells are routinely locked and clearance occurs efficiently during internal transfers to prevent property loss?
Regime/Time Out of Cell
What is the timetable to attain the key working delivery levels experienced by prisoners prior to the pandemic?
Education/Purposeful Activity
What targets are in place to increase the number of prisoners being able to complete offending behaviour programmes?
Resettlement/Release
What steps will be taken to increase the number of meaningful job opportunities for prisoners?
Education/Purposeful Activity
What plans are in place to accelerate the opening of the dormant textile workshop given the significant investment in building such a new facility?
Staffing
What actions will be taken to develop managers and frontline staff to increase supervision and confidence so that staff/prisoner relationships improve?
Mental Health
How will the lack of availability and quality of distraction packs be addressed?
Equality/Diversity
How will the lack of suitably adapted cells for disabled people be addressed?
Healthcare
Repeated
Over 40% of first assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) reviews do not have the benefit of healthcare input, which impacts on the safety of prisoners – how will this issue be addressed?
Healthcare
Repeated
What is the solution to improve the IT infrastructure so medical records can be accessed across the estate to ensure prisoners are not put at risk?
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing remains a significant challenge, marked by high turnover, recruitment difficulties, and a large proportion of operational staff with less than two years' service. This has led to under-resourcing of critical functions like key working and program delivery, with many officers also behind on mandatory training. While the education department is well-staffed and healthcare has managed shortfalls with agency staff, the loss of experienced officers raises concerns about knowledge transfer and overall staff confidence.
Healthcare
Healthcare staff demonstrated flexibility by mobilising onto wings during COVID-19 outbreaks but were hampered by poor IT infrastructure, preventing access to medical records. A significant concern is the 40% non-attendance of healthcare at first ACCT reviews, and reception health screenings are often conducted without proper IT access. The healthcare building itself is not fully fit for purpose and requires roof replacement. While GP waiting times have improved, dental appointments for routine cases can take six months.
Regime & Daily Life
HMP Erlestoke operated under restrictive COVID-19 regimes for half the year, severely limiting time out of cell, access to education, training, and social visits, which caused prisoner frustration. The long-awaited installation of in-cell telephones was a significant positive development, easing the burden of restricted regimes and poor video call access. Despite limitations, education, library, and gym staff commendably maintained services, though offending behaviour programmes were severely curtailed.
Recommendations (16)
Ministry of Justice: 4
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 8
NHS / Healthcare Provider: 2
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
What immediate solution can be offered to those prisoners desperate to move on with their sentence plan but who have been waiting to transfer to category D prisons, some for more than two years?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What targets have been set to reduce the number of IPP prisoners so some hope can be given to such prisoners at Erlestoke, over 10% of the population, several of whom are many years over their original sentence tariff?
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
What plans exist to address the chronic national shortage of accommodation for those prisoners with complex mental health needs who cannot be adequately cared for in a normal prison environment?
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 4
When will the daily food budget allowance set over five years ago be reviewed, given that food prices have risen more than 20% over the past two years?
Ministry of Justice
Food
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What is the revised timetable for completing the replacement of the residential wings, given there have been several delays and missed deadlines, so prisoners can benefit from the progression regime being in one location?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 6
How will the Prison Service ensure the infrastructure and support mechanisms are enhanced to cope with the increase in the population of the prison when Kennet and Avebury wings are functioning?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 7
What actions will be taken to ensure cells are routinely locked and clearance occurs efficiently during internal transfers to prevent property loss?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 8
What is the timetable to attain the key working delivery levels experienced by prisoners prior to the pandemic?
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 9
What targets are in place to increase the number of prisoners being able to complete offending behaviour programmes?
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 10
What steps will be taken to increase the number of meaningful job opportunities for prisoners?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Recommendation 11
What plans are in place to accelerate the opening of the dormant textile workshop given the significant investment in building such a new facility?
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 12
What actions will be taken to develop managers and frontline staff to increase supervision and confidence so that staff/prisoner relationships improve?
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 13
How will the lack of availability and quality of distraction packs be addressed?
Governor / Director
Mental Health
Recommendation 14
How will the lack of suitably adapted cells for disabled people be addressed?
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 15
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Over 40% of first assessment, care in custody and teamwork (ACCT) reviews do not have the benefit of healthcare input, which impacts on the safety of prisoners – how will this issue be addressed?
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Healthcare
Recommendation 16
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What is the solution to improve the IT infrastructure so medical records can be accessed across the estate to ensure prisoners are not put at risk?
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Healthcare
Other IMB Reports for Erlestoke
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
10 Jun 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.