Prison
Cat High security (Category A)
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Frankland
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 25 March 2022
HMP Frankland maintained a safe and humane environment during the pandemic, despite a restricted regime. The report highlights successes in staff dedication and reduced self-harm incidents, but raises significant concerns about healthcare provision, especially dental waiting times and the unsuitable physical environment. Staffing shortages in the OMU and inconsistencies in the key worker scheme impacted prisoner progression, alongside issues with property transfers and workshop conditions.
Positive Findings
The IMB is satisfied that staff and senior managers work hard to maintain a safe environment, with Frankland comparing favourably with other establishments in the LTHSE. The regime throughout the pandemic was considered fair and humane, with activities reintroduced as soon as safe. The dedication and professionalism of MPU staff, their multidisciplinary approach, and the progression of 10 prisoners from long-term segregation were welcomed. Staff-prisoner relationships are generally positive, and the senior management team is committed to fair and equitable treatment. Black History Month was celebrated, and chaplains provided impressive support during the pandemic. The kitchen delivers a good standard of meals, and the palliative care suite was re-certified. Education provision was rated as good, developing partnership working and allowing more accredited learning, even for those in segregation. The library services, provided by Durham Council, offer a huge number of books and resources, including foreign language materials. Purple Visits proved very popular and the visits area is well-run and supported by Nepacs.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Given the ageing prison population and a growing number of prisoners being diagnosed with dementia, can consideration now be given to providing an appropriate physical environment for this group of prisoners along with suitably qualified care workers (para 6.4)?
Other
Can HMPPS now expedite the completion of the prisoners’ property policy framework with particular focus on consistent, effective processes and rules that are easily understood (para 5.8)?
Estate/Conditions
Can HMPPS review the physical environment for healthcare, which is no longer sufficient for the size of the establishment?
Staffing
Can the relaunch of the key worker scheme be taken forward as soon as possible to include further staff training and additional management input where appropriate?
Healthcare
Waiting times for dental appointments were a particular concern.
Segregation
The IMB remains concerned that some prisoners remain in the unit [segregation] for over six months.
Staffing
The unit [OMU] is carrying three POM vacancies. It is therefore not surprising that there has been a backlog of OASys (offender assessment system) reviews.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
some sessions have still been cancelled due to low temperatures in the workshops. At time of writing only five of the nine workshop heaters had been replaced.
Education/Purposeful Activity
existing records were not backed up and were lost in the installation process [education server]
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing remains a constant challenge, particularly in healthcare where there were nine vacancies relying on agency staff. The Offender Management Unit (OMU) is carrying three POM vacancies, leading to a backlog of OASys reviews. The key worker scheme suffered from inconsistency, with just over 50% of projected sessions recorded; however, the Governor is aware of the issue and plans to rectify it. In contrast, the education department has successfully resolved recruitment problems and currently has no vacancies.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision was significantly impacted by the pandemic, prioritising serious and urgent cases. Waiting times for dental appointments (427 days) were a particular concern, along with GP (12 days), physio (196 days), and optician (98 days). The physical healthcare environment is no longer suitable for the prison's size, and the mental health team works in cramped conditions with insufficient interview rooms. The IMB remains concerned about the lack of an appropriate environment and qualified care workers for prisoners with dementia. Healthcare reported 377 complaints during the year and was carrying nine staff vacancies, relying on agency staff.
Regime & Daily Life
The pandemic led to a highly restricted regime, with workshops and gym sessions ceasing and prisoners unable to cook. As restrictions eased, activities were slowly reintroduced, but the emergence of Omicron led to a return to more restrictive measures. Throughout, prisoners had daily access to showers, phone calls, exercise, and medication. To counteract longer periods in cells, measures like TVs for basic prisoners, electronic devices for standard prisoners, a weekly newsletter with in-cell exercises, additional phone credit, and distraction packs were introduced. Some prisoners commented that they preferred the restricted regime, and ACCT numbers fell.
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 | 1 | — | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 6 | — | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 9 | — | |
| Equality | 8 | — | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 7 | — | |
| Food and kitchens | 10 | — | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 21 | — | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 17 | — | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 21 | — | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 17 | — | |
| Property within this establishment | 12 | — | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 4 | — | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 15 | — | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 13 | — | |
| Transfers | 12 | — |
Recommendations (4)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 1
Recommendation 1
Given the ageing prison population and a growing number of prisoners being diagnosed with dementia, can consideration now be given to providing an appropriate physical environment for this group of prisoners along with suitably qualified care workers (para 6.4)?
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
Can HMPPS now expedite the completion of the prisoners’ property policy framework with particular focus on consistent, effective processes and rules that are easily understood (para 5.8)?
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 3
Can HMPPS review the physical environment for healthcare, which is no longer sufficient for the size of the establishment?
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 4
Can the relaunch of the key worker scheme be taken forward as soon as possible to include further staff training and additional management input where appropriate?
Governor / Director
Staffing