Prison
Cat D
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Springhill
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 27 April 2022
HMP Springhill, an open Category D prison, held a population of around 255 men in 2021, operating below its Certified Normal Accommodation of 335. The Board noted positive developments in safety indicators, improved equality and diversity monitoring, and enhanced healthcare provision. However, significant concerns remain regarding the dilapidated state of much of the accommodation, the impact of delayed building projects on resettlement, and persistent issues with external probation services affecting ROTL and release outcomes.
Positive Findings
Safety indicators, including self-harm and violence, remained at low levels, and absconds were down on the previous year. Diversity analysis and monitoring significantly improved, with forums set up to discuss issues identified. Healthcare provision improved, and the Covid-19 isolation regime and vaccination rollout proved effective. Opportunities for Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) improved, and a job club was established to engage local businesses and support employment.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The condition of most of the huts is not decent and does not support Springhill’s resettlement objectives, and planned works for the reception area from 2019 have yet to be delivered.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Late delivery of building projects, including new accommodation, impacted some men's access to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL).
Substance Misuse
The open estate has not been allocated body scanners, missing an opportunity to improve detection of illicit items, especially compared to neighbouring HMP Grendon.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Levels of pay for residents are insufficient to keep pace with inflation due to an inadequate budget.
Food/Catering
The budget for food, which has remained unchanged for many years, makes it difficult to sustain standards amidst price inflation.
Resettlement/Release
Issues with outside probation are affecting residents’ access to Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) and securing appropriate accommodation on release.
Resettlement/Release
There is a need for improvements to outcomes on release based on improved sequencing of sentence plans and activities.
Mental Health
A better understanding of actual levels of mental ill-health is needed, alongside improving communication to enhance wellbeing.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing issues in the population management unit and induction caused poor outcomes in the first quarter, and the shortfall for swab testing was due to staffing issues. Communication between staff and prisoners, and staff support, was perceived as lacking. The key worker scheme is not operated, and welfare checks completion rates dropped. The Board noted racially tinged 'banter' among staff and some staff resorting to adjudications rather than other tools. Delays in appointing senior mental health staff led to reliance on bank nurses, affecting care consistency.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision improved overall, and the Board judged it to be good, with 100% completion rates for initial and secondary health screenings. However, access to dentists was noted as difficult. There were two Covid-19 outbreaks during the year, with a significant number of men choosing not to be vaccinated. Mental health issues were self-declared by 34% of residents, but there remains a lack of understanding of actual levels, with many reporting deteriorating emotional wellbeing and limited understanding of available services. Drug and Alcohol Recovery Team (DART) provided one-to-one sessions but group work was limited, and some residents felt engaging with DART could negatively impact ROTL prospects.
Regime & Daily Life
Covid-19 restrictions significantly impacted the regime for much of the year, leading to a reduced prison roll and limitations on activities. Classroom teaching in education became a blend of small classes and in-hut work. While indoor gym use restarted, restrictions on sharing equipment frustrated residents. Group work for drug rehabilitation and group worship were often curtailed. The total number of ROTLs remained well short of pre-pandemic levels, and non-essential face-to-face meetings in the Offender Management Unit ceased again 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 laundry, clothing, ablutions | 0 | 1 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 0 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 2 | 0 | |
| Equality | 0 | 1 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 1 | 2 | |
| Food and kitchens | 0 | 1 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 1 | 0 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 2 | 0 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 0 | 1 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 5 | 3 | |
| Property within this establishment | 0 | 0 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 0 | 0 | |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 3 | 2 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 1 | 0 | |
| Transfers | 0 | 2 |
Recommendations (10)
Other: 1
HMPPS: 5
Governor / Director: 4
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Although some of the accommodation has improved, the Board has repeatedly commented on the condition of most of the huts, which are not decent and do not support Springhill’s resettlement objectives (see 5.1.8). Will funding be made available to improve this?
Other
(minister)
Estate
Recommendation 2
The Board has highlighted the connection between late delivery of building projects and the impact on some men being able to access ROTL.
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 3
The open estate has not been allocated body scanners. Given the relatively large number of IRs/finds compared with neighbouring Grendon (see 4.5.3), where a scanner has been used, this would seem to be an opportunity to improve the detection of illicit items.
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 4
The Board appreciates that levels of pay for residents are set by the Governor, but the budget is insufficient to support an increase that keeps pace with inflation (see 7.2.8).
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 5
The Board queries how long the prison will be able to sustain standards on food based on a budget per head that has remained unchanged for many years (see 5.1.15).
HMPPS
Food
Recommendation 6
The Board has highlighted issues with outside probation that are affecting some residents’ access to ROTL (see 7.3.4) and securing appropriate accommodation on release (see 7.5.2).
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 7
The Board looks forward to improvements to outcomes on release based on improved sequencing (see 7.2.2).
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Recommendation 8
The Board looks forward to the development of more full time work on camp, as planned (see 7.2.6).
Governor / Director
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 9
The Board looks forward to a better understanding of actual levels of mental ill-health (6.3.1) and how communication is linked to wellbeing (see 5.3.4).
Governor / Director
Mental Health
Recommendation 10
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board looks forward to improvements to the reception area (see 4.1.2).
Governor / Director
Estate