Prison
Cat training prison for young adults (18-21) and categ
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Isis
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 18 May 2022
HMP/YOI Isis, a training prison for young adults, faced significant challenges during 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic and its transition to a younger population. Self-harm and violence incidents rose considerably, though some safety measures like ACCT cases decreased. The Board expressed ongoing concerns about property issues, delays in mental health transfers, and the impact of reduced face-to-face education and purposeful activity on rehabilitation.
Positive Findings
The Board commends staff in reception for being well organised and treating new arrivals with decency and respect. First night procedures are well structured. Hygiene and cleanliness standards have generally been good and maintained from the previous year. The psychological therapies model introduced by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust provides treatment pathways supporting mental health care, and the Samaritans-led Listener programme was active.
Key Concerns
Other
Repeated
The Minister is required to deliver the policy framework for handling prisoners’ property that has been promised for so many years.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Education and work are central to the aims of the Prisons Strategy White Paper, but an integrated and sustainable programme will be needed if prisoners are to successfully make a life outside prison.
Other
Repeated
Publish the new property policy framework referred to in the response to the 2020 annual report and which the Prison Service said would be published in 2021.
Resettlement/Release
Require prisons receiving prisoners from the courts to complete an OASys report before a prisoner is transferred.
Resettlement/Release
Put in place arrangements that allow category D prisoners to move to category D prisons without undue delay after they have been recategorised.
Estate/Conditions
Support the prison to find a long-term solution to the broken cell windows in the prison.
Resettlement/Release
Provide an assessment of the impact of the changed arrangements for the resettlement of prisoners on their prospects of securing housing, employment and education.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
As soon as the measures relating to Covid-19 allow, reinstate an induction programme for new arrivals.
Staffing
Continue to increase the amount of time spent on key work and keep under review the effectiveness of the ‘community-based’ approach to key work.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
In year, evaluate whether the ‘community-based model’ is delivering the benefits anticipated in relation to violence, education and training, attendance at other activities and prisoners' feelings of safety. But also assess the impact of no planned time for association on prisoners.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Continue to work effectively and proactively with education and vocational training providers to drive up levels of engagement and motivation in education and work-related skills, to ensure that prisoners are fully prepared to enter the world of work upon release.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Reinstate as soon as possible Christian faith services, so that all denominations can worship on Sundays, and Friday prayers for Muslim prisoners.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Complete the review of the IEP scheme and introduce any changes.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Key work provision has been minimal due to staffing pressures, but a decision was made to assign key workers to prisoners on their home spur to strengthen relationships. Changes in the chaplaincy team saw new appointments, but the managing chaplain post was vacant at year-end. Staffing in the Offender Management Unit was tight throughout the year, leading to some poor communication.
Healthcare
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust effectively responded to the pandemic with testing and vaccinations, while maintaining a 24/7 emergency response, GP, pharmacy, and mental health services. The mental health caseload increased throughout the year, with a rise in those accessing in-reach and psychological therapies. However, the Board reiterates its concern that prison is not an appropriate environment for those with chronic mental illness, citing examples of long waits for NHS transfers.
Regime & Daily Life
The core time out of cell was 2.5 hours per day, comprising 1 hour for exercise and 1.5 hours for domestics. No structured association was provided, but prisoners could mix within their cohort on the spur during domestics. The gym reopened in April, with access increasing by October. The community (cohort)-based approach, retaining small groups, was adopted to reduce conflict, though its full impact could not be assessed due to renewed restrictions in December.
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) | 26 | 38 | |
| Adjudications | 11 | 11 | — |
| Discrimination | 3 | 2 | |
| Food | 0 | 1 | |
| Healthcare | 17 | 21 | |
| Other | 35 | 45 | |
| Property (Internal) | 26 | 44 | |
| Property (On transfer from another prison) | 27 | 34 | |
| Rule 39 | 12 | 19 | |
| Segregation | 12 | 16 | |
| Sentence Planning | 17 | 19 | |
| Staff | 25 | 12 | |
| Visits | 2 | 6 | |
| Work/Pay | 3 | 4 |