Prison
Cat D open prison
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Kirklevington Grange
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 30 May 2022
HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange is a Category D open prison operating in a year significantly impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. The report highlights the prison's successful management of the pandemic, leading to a safe environment, high ROTL success, and good healthcare provision. Key concerns include reduced operational capacity, delays in new accommodation, issues with property transfers, and difficulties with prisoners obtaining debit cards, alongside an altered perception of the open regime due to restrictions.
Positive Findings
The Governor and staff effectively managed Covid-19, resulting in low infection rates, no absconds, and a high ROTL success rate. The prison is well-run, offering a positive experience for most. Healthcare provision is good, often exceeding community standards, with improved waiting times and high vaccination rates. The reducing reoffending team is commended for providing skills and employment opportunities, ensuring prisoners are adequately prepared for release with accommodation. There has been increased investment in infrastructure, improving living conditions. Staff-prisoner relationships are positive, and the chaplaincy team is valued. Educational and vocational efforts continued despite restrictions, with a successful football foundation twinning project and appreciated library services.
Key Concerns
Overcrowding
Repeated
The operational capacity was reduced significantly though the closure of three accommodation units. This reduction in category D capacity deprived other prisoners in the estate the opportunities provided at Kirklevington Grange.
Other
When prisoners arrive, it is often the case that not all their property arrives with them, and outstanding property often goes missing in transit, causing issues for the prisoner.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
There are still ongoing issues with obtaining debit/credit cards for prisoners.
Complaints/Property
Prisoners’ perceptions that 'if we complain we will be returned to closed conditions'.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
New admissions feeling Kirklevington Grange does not feel like a category D establishment due to Covid-19 restrictions and the perimeter fence.
Mental Health
Covid-19 restrictions did result in an increased waiting time for group sessions and outside appointments, which in a lockdown situation can lead to increased anxiety and agitation.
Other
Video calls were not particularly successful at Kirklevington and caused some frustrations to prisoners and staff with constant breakdowns and failures of the technology.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Woodwork did not reopen due to ongoing staff resource issues.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels were at times reduced due to Covid-19 sickness and isolation requirements, particularly in the OMU where only one of eight staff members was present in October. The IMB also raised concerns about reduced numbers in the DART team, though a dual-site recruitment process for a senior practitioner was underway. Despite these challenges, staff are noted for their good knowledge of prisoners, effective communication, and respectful treatment, with high satisfaction rates reported in exit interviews. Physical education instructors are particularly commended for their outstanding service amidst restrictions.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision at Kirklevington Grange is considered good, often exceeding community standards. Waiting times improved in 2021, and the prison achieved high Covid-19 vaccination rates. Mental health provision meets normal demand, with no waiting list for psychiatric nurses or Rethink therapies, and crisis patients seen within 24 hours. However, Covid-19 restrictions led to increased waiting times for mental health group sessions and outside appointments, causing anxiety. Physical healthcare includes one GP session per week, two nurse prescribers, and various specific clinics. Palliative care is assessed on a case-by-case basis, and the prison cannot accommodate some severe physical disabilities.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime was significantly impacted by Covid-19 restrictions throughout the year, limiting group activities, face-to-face teaching, and workshops. While essential services like the fitness suite remained available, new admissions felt the prison did not feel like a Category D establishment due to restrictions and the perimeter fence. Meals were collected and eaten in rooms instead of the dining hall, and catering offerings were reduced. Despite these challenges, staff worked diligently to provide alternative activities, such as in-cell learning packs, and successfully reintroduced some group activities and browsing in the library when restrictions allowed.
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) | 3 | 2 | |
| Adjudications | 0 | 1 | |
| Bullying/victimisation | 0 | 0 | |
| Complaints | 0 | 0 | |
| Discipline/segregation | 0 | 0 | |
| Discrimination | 0 | 0 | |
| Drug/alcohol treatment | 0 | 0 | |
| Education/work | 0 | 0 | |
| Facilities (general) | 0 | 0 | |
| Finance | 0 | 0 | |
| Food | 0 | 0 | |
| Health care | 2 | 0 | |
| Legal | 0 | 0 | |
| Other | 0 | 0 | |
| Property | 1 | 0 | |
| Religious/cultural | 0 | 0 | |
| Rotl/HDC | 0 | 0 | |
| Staff behaviour | 0 | 1 | |
| Threats to own safety | 0 | 0 | |
| Visits (inc family) | 0 | 0 | |
| Welfare | 0 | 0 |
Recommendations (5)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 2
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Can it be ensured that the programme for the ‘new build’ and the subsequent increase to full capacity is given priority?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 2
Are there plans to move to an electronic property management system? This could facilitate transfer between establishments and help reduce the volume of lost property.
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 3
Repeated
To assist prisoners on release and facing financial issues, is this something that can be resolved [regarding obtaining debit/credit cards]?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
We would like to see some means of dispelling this culture [prisoners’ perceptions that “if we complain we will be returned to closed conditions”].
Governor / Director
Complaints
Recommendation 5
We look forward to the change in attitude of prisoners [regarding the feeling that Kirklevington Grange does not feel like a category D establishment].
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Kirklevington Grange
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
2 Sep 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 4
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.