Prison
Cat B, C training prison for men convicted of sexual o
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Rye Hill
IMB Annual Report 2022 · Published 1 August 2022
HMP Rye Hill adapted its regime throughout the year due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, maintaining a safe and secure environment with reductions in self-harm and violence. The Board commends the prison's communication strategy and staff efforts, but highlights significant concerns regarding IPP prisoner progression, end-of-life care procedures, and the lack of specialist resettlement support for sex offenders released directly from the prison. Healthcare provision faces challenges with a pending change of provider and long waiting times for care assessments.
Positive Findings
The Board maintains an excellent working relationship with the Senior Management Team (SMT) and commends their innovative communication strategy, including the Daily Vlog, which kept both prisoners and staff well-informed during the pandemic. This contributed to a safe and secure environment, supported by a reduction in violence and self-harm. The Board also noted fair and humane treatment, flexible programme delivery, and progress in addressing an education improvement plan.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Progress for the IPP cohort remains a concern. This issue not only impacts Rye Hill, but the whole prison estate. Prisoners subject to this sentence often present major challenges in their management making it even harder for them to progress.
Healthcare
The difficulties surrounding appropriate arrangements for end-of-life care and compassionate release, imposed by current HMPPS facilities and procedures, impact HMP Rye Hill disproportionately because of the higher than average age profile of the prisoners held. The current procedures do not seem to facilitate humane treatment of these prisoners.
Resettlement/Release
The Board remains concerned that the stated preparation for release path of staged movements from category B to category C and then to a local or category D prison, as defined by HMPPS, represents a particular problem for prisoners convicted of sexual offences and frequently does not seem to happen in practice leaving them to be released from an establishment with no specialist ‘through the gate’ support.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
There does not seem to be a process for managing the impact on prisoners of changes to the rules on in-possession property with items being allowed, then disallowed with no explanation or transition period leading to unfairness especially for those prisoners who have recently acquired withdrawn items.
Staffing
Based on comments from staff members, refresher training for key workers would be valuable once regimes are fully reopened.
Complaints/Property
Prisoners have asked for a specific appeal form concerning recategorisation decisions (rather than using a Comp1) and the Board considers this would be a useful upgrade to the process.
Healthcare
The Board has concerns about the time being taken to action the change in primary healthcare supplier as a delay may impact staff recruitment and motivation (see section 6.2).
Education/Purposeful Activity
The Board continues to have concerns about access to vocational training and higher education for those prisoners who are not suitable for programmes (see section 7.1).
Education/Purposeful Activity
However there is a continuing issue of low attendance at education sessions with a typical attendance of only 75% of prisoners who were allocated to the course, even though the allocated number is often less than the capacity.
Healthcare
Of especial concern is the support for long-term conditions such as diabetes, as the specialist nurse left some time ago and the current HMP Rye Hill population has an unexpectedly high rate of diabetes of 16%, which is much higher than the age-adjusted average of 10.4% in the general population.
Healthcare
There have been a few requests for care needs assessments in the reporting period, however at the moment these are taking up to 15 weeks to be completed.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Key workers were supplemented by non-residential staff to ensure coverage, but refresher training for key workers is deemed valuable once regimes fully reopen, as many have only received initial training. Staff testing positive for Covid-19 face isolation until negative, even beyond 10 days. Overall staffing has been pressured by Covid-19 isolations and bed-watches for the older population, with concerns that healthcare vacancies may not be filled until a new provider is in place.
Healthcare
Healthcare was generally adequate, with a flexible vaccination program preventing serious illness. However, the Board is concerned about delays in transferring primary healthcare services to the NHS, which may affect recruitment. Three non-Covid-19 related deaths occurred. The prison, with its older population (40% over 50), disproportionately struggles with HMPPS procedures for end-of-life care and compassionate release. There's also concern about long-term conditions, particularly a high diabetes rate, and long waiting times for care needs assessments (up to 15 weeks).
Regime & Daily Life
The regime varied throughout the year due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions and staff isolations, leading to reduced time out of cell and productive activities. However, prisoners always had access to a shower and at least 30 minutes of exercise and housekeeping time. Dining out of cell on a scheduled rota was introduced, and efforts were made to communicate work changes clearly. A peer-led 'Challenge2Change' initiative is planned to promote exercise and healthier eating.
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 | 9 | 14 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 2 | 1 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, ISP, sanctions | 3 | 6 | |
| Equality | 5 | 9 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 5 | 8 | |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 1 | — |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 15 | 13 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 10 | 18 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 11 | 12 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 1 | 0 | |
| Property within this establishment | 10 | 16 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 5 | 4 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 24 | 24 | — |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 21 | 49 | |
| Transfers | 1 | 2 |
Recommendations (6)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 2
Recommendation 1
Progress for the IPP cohort remains a concern. This issue not only impacts Rye Hill, but the whole prison estate. Prisoners subject to this sentence often present major challenges in their management making it even harder for them to progress.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
The difficulties surrounding appropriate arrangements for end-of-life care and compassionate release, imposed by current HMPPS facilities and procedures, impact HMP Rye Hill disproportionately because of the higher than average age profile of the prisoners held. The current procedures do not seem to facilitate humane treatment of these prisoners.
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 3
The Board remains concerned that the stated preparation for release path of staged movements from category B to category C and then to a local or category D prison, as defined by HMPPS, represents a particular problem for prisoners convicted of sexual offences and frequently does not seem to happen in practice leaving them to be released from an establishment with no specialist ‘through the gate’ support.
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
There does not seem to be a process for managing the impact on prisoners of changes to the rules on in-possession property with items being allowed, then disallowed with no explanation or transition period leading to unfairness especially for those prisoners who have recently acquired withdrawn items.
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 5
Based on comments from staff members, refresher training for key workers would be valuable once regimes are fully reopened.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 6
Prisoners have asked for a specific appeal form concerning recategorisation decisions (rather than using a Comp1) and the Board considers this would be a useful upgrade to the process.
Governor / Director
Complaints
Other IMB Reports for Rye Hill
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
20 Aug 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 3
Release: 4
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.