Prison
Cat closed women’s prison and young offender instituti
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Foston Hall
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 18 March 2022
HMP/YOI Foston Hall faced significant challenges in the reporting year ending November 2021, primarily from persistent Covid-19 restrictions and severe staffing pressures. The IMB acknowledged the dedication of staff and noted improvements in areas like induction and welfare checks. However, serious concerns remain regarding the prison's high self-harm rates, inadequate mental health provision, unsuitable accommodation, and the impact of staff shortages on regime delivery and prisoner resettlement.
Positive Findings
The IMB welcomed the consistency of leadership and recognised the management team's efforts. They commended Foston Hall's culture for keeping prisoners safe and effectively managing Covid-19 arrangements. Significant improvements were noted in induction, the new razor policy, and the implementation of OMiC. The Board praised the commitment of officers, the dedication of the chaplaincy, the perseverance of CSU staff, kitchen staff for uninterrupted catering, and healthcare staff for creative recruitment.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
the inadequate provision for mental health throughout the criminal justice system, which is a serious concern? This is manifested in Foston Hall in a high level of unmet need for mental health treatment and delays in transferring prisoners to secure hospitals
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
the increased number of prisoners being released without an address to go to now additional Covid-19 funding to tackle homelessness has stopped
Resettlement/Release
the implications of probation reform, including the loss of staffing for the discharge lounge, the loss of support for those on remand, the fractured/dispersed support away from prison – and huge demand on resources to implement reform
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
the longstanding inadequacy of accommodation on D wing
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
the longstanding problem of the size and layout of the CSU (despite the recent renovation), which mean the regime provided is limited and the environment is poor
Estate/Conditions
the serious shortcomings of the temporary G wing accommodation
Healthcare
Repeated
the inadequate accommodation for the provision of healthcare
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
the lack of interview rooms, which seriously undermines the delivery of rehabilitative work, in particular healthcare, mental health and offender management
Mental Health
Repeated
the unmet mental healthcare need
Estate/Conditions
the continuing poor performance of Amey in undertaking maintenance and repairs
Other
the ongoing IT problems which result in lengthy delays in resolving problems and replacing broken equipment, undermining the efficient administration of the prison
Safety
Repeated
the continued high level of self-harm
Safety
Repeated
increase in violent incidents due to an increase in assaults on staff
Safety
Repeated
the high, if erratic, level of use of force, and the need for improvement in the use of body worn cameras
Regime/Time Out of Cell
the high number of regime curtailments due to staffing issues
Segregation
high use of segregation, and the increase in prisoners segregated on an open ACCT
Segregation
the increase in use of cellular confinement
Other
the absence of referrals to the independent adjudicator during the year, despite appropriate cases
Other
Repeated
ongoing backlogs/delays in processing prisoners’ property
Equality/Diversity
the underuse of the discrimination incident reporting form (DIRF) system and prisoner feedback which suggest it is not well understood or trusted
Equality/Diversity
the views of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) prisoners surveyed by the IMB, rating the prison’s understanding of their cultural needs as low, especially regarding access to canteen products, appropriate food and clothing
Equality/Diversity
lack of support to foreign national prisoners who do not speak English
Staffing
staffing pressures in healthcare and mental health, impacting on services provided.
Mental Health
the ‘short-term’ closure of the mental health office to facilitate the demolition of A and B wings, which by November had extended into three months, causing acute problems for the delivery of mental health services
Education/Purposeful Activity
the ongoing absence of initial screening of prisoners for learning difficulties and disability (LDD) due to a staffing shortage.
Board Commentary
Staffing
The prison faced significant staffing pressures due to high levels of Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 related absences, and a reduction in officer experience, with 27% having less than two years' service. This led to regime curtailments and frustration among staff who lacked time for prisoner engagement. Healthcare also struggled with recruitment of primary care clinicians, but saw success in appointing full-time staff, reducing reliance on agency workers, and developing creative solutions for staffing issues.
Healthcare
Healthcare services, provided by Practice Plus Group, were assessed as satisfactory by the CQC, despite operating under significant staff shortages, Covid-19 pressures, and inadequate accommodation. While basic and emergency care was maintained effectively, mental health provision was impacted, contributing to a large volume of unmet mental healthcare need. Challenges included a lack of qualified night nurses, poor attendance at segregation reviews, and an unfit-for-purpose dispensing hatch, though recruitment improved towards the end of the year.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime remained highly restricted due to Covid-19, with prisoners often confined to cells for up to 23 hours a day, which the IMB deemed inhumane. Additional curtailments were frequently imposed due to staffing pressures. A gradual, often halting, resumption of education and training activities occurred, initially remotely, moving to small group classroom sessions in September. Access to Listeners was affected by the pandemic, though Samaritan calls were extensively used.
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) | 17 | 38 | |
| Canteen/Money/Property | 17 | 10 | |
| Cell call bells | 0 | 1 | |
| Discipline/Segregation | 20 | 11 | |
| Discrimination | 0 | 1 | |
| Food/Diet | 5 | 11 | |
| General (including complaints against staff) | 39 | 36 | |
| Healthcare | 76 | 73 | |
| Legal (visits, letters, phone calls, documents) | 22 | 26 | |
| Other | 1 | 1 | — |
| Regime | 7 | 8 | |
| Safeguarding (staff concerns) | 1 | 0 | |
| Security/Harassment | 0 | 0 | |
| Sentence (licence, parole, release, IPP) | 21 | 24 | |
| TOTAL | 236 | 250 | |
| Visits | 10 | 10 | — |
| Work/Education/Activities | 0 | 0 |
Recommendations (26)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 8
Governor / Director: 15
12 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Are there plans to address: the inadequate provision for mental health throughout the criminal justice system, which is a serious concern? This is manifested in Foston Hall in a high level of unmet need for mental health treatment and delays in transferring prisoners to secure hospitals
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Are there plans to address: the increased number of prisoners being released without an address to go to now additional Covid-19 funding to tackle homelessness has stopped
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Response
Covid-19 homelessness funding ceased in April 2021. An enhanced ‘through the gate’ service for prisoners is being implemented. The number of prisoners released without an address has increased to an average of 19% between June and October.
Recommendation 3
Are there plans to address: the implications of probation reform, including the loss of staffing for the discharge lounge, the loss of support for those on remand, the fractured/dispersed support away from prison – and huge demand on resources to implement reform
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Are there plans to address: the longstanding inadequacy of accommodation on D wing
HMPPS
Estate
Response
Competing funding priorities meant bid was unsuccessful. Decoration planned.
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Are there plans to address: the longstanding problem of the size and layout of the CSU (despite the recent renovation), which mean the regime provided is limited and the environment is poor
HMPPS
Estate
Response
Renovation has been completed. Despite improvements from refurbishment, the area is still cramped and a poor environment. A new build remains the longer-term solution.
Recommendation 6
Are there plans to address: the serious shortcomings of the temporary G wing accommodation
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Are there plans to address: the inadequate accommodation for the provision of healthcare
HMPPS
Healthcare
Response
It is accepted that there is insufficient space for the team to deliver all the commissioned services. A bid has been submitted for additional space for healthcare.
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Are there plans to address: the lack of interview rooms, which seriously undermines the delivery of rehabilitative work, in particular healthcare, mental health and offender management
HMPPS
Estate
Response
A regular strategic accommodation meeting has been set up to maximise use of existing space. The shortage of rooms remains acute.
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Are there plans to address: the unmet mental healthcare need
HMPPS
Mental Health
Recommendation 10
Are there plans to address: the continuing poor performance of Amey in undertaking maintenance and repairs
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 11
Are there plans to address: the ongoing IT problems which result in lengthy delays in resolving problems and replacing broken equipment, undermining the efficient administration of the prison
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 12
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The IMB is concerned about: the continued high level of self-harm
Governor / Director
Safety
Response
Levels remain high (the highest in the women’s estate).
Recommendation 13
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The IMB is concerned about: increase in violent incidents due to an increase in assaults on staff
Governor / Director
Safety
Response
This remains high.
Recommendation 14
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The IMB is concerned about: the high, if erratic, level of use of force, and the need for improvement in the use of body worn cameras
Governor / Director
Safety
Response
The percentage of use of force incidents videotaped fluctuates and remains a concern.
Recommendation 15
The IMB is concerned about: the high number of regime curtailments due to staffing issues
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 16
The IMB is concerned about: high use of segregation, and the increase in prisoners segregated on an open ACCT
Governor / Director
Segregation
Recommendation 17
The IMB is concerned about: the increase in use of cellular confinement
Governor / Director
Segregation
Recommendation 18
The IMB is concerned about: the absence of referrals to the independent adjudicator during the year, despite appropriate cases
Governor / Director
Other
Recommendation 19
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The IMB is concerned about: ongoing backlogs/delays in processing prisoners’ property
Governor / Director
Other
Response
A recurring issue raised during rota visits and in applications.
Recommendation 20
The IMB is concerned about: the underuse of the discrimination incident reporting form (DIRF) system and prisoner feedback which suggest it is not well understood or trusted
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 21
The IMB is concerned about: the views of black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) prisoners surveyed by the IMB, rating the prison’s understanding of their cultural needs as low, especially regarding access to canteen products, appropriate food and clothing
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 22
The IMB is concerned about: lack of support to foreign national prisoners who do not speak English
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 23
The IMB is concerned about: staffing pressures in healthcare and mental health, impacting on services provided.
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 24
The IMB is concerned about: the ‘short-term’ closure of the mental health office to facilitate the demolition of A and B wings, which by November had extended into three months, causing acute problems for the delivery of mental health services
Governor / Director
Mental Health
Recommendation 25
The IMB is concerned about: the ongoing absence of initial screening of prisoners for learning difficulties and disability (LDD) due to a staffing shortage.
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 26
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The IMB is concerned about: the increase in the number of prisoners being released without an address
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Response
The number of prisoners released without an address has increased to an average of 19% between June and October.
Other IMB Reports for Foston Hall
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
13 Jan 2025
Unannounced
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.