Prison
Cat YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Cookham Wood
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 15 February 2022
HMYOI Cookham Wood operated with a restricted regime during the reporting year due to Covid-19, leading to boys being locked in their rooms for extended periods and a significant reduction in purposeful activity and education. Staff shortages exacerbated these issues, though staff dedication and the transformation of the resettlement team were noted positives. Key concerns include the continued lack of secure mental health beds, delays in transferring 18+ year-olds, and inadequate IT facilities, all contributing to an environment the IMB deemed detrimental to the boys' wellbeing and development.
Positive Findings
The IMB commends staff for their imaginative handling of an adult prisoner situation and their quick response to self-harm indications. Nurses provided professional triage and primary care without delay, and the mental health team was well-resourced. The development and roll-out of SECURE STAIRS integrated care is seen as transformational. Boys achieved positive results in education, Duke of Edinburgh awards, and art exhibitions, despite restrictions. Significant progress has been made with the Phoenix unit redevelopment, a transformed resettlement team, a new visitors centre, and the Woody’s Barista Cafe for training.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
There continues to be a chronic lack of secure mental health hospital beds for children nationally, and the time taken to transfer boys with significant mental health issues to hospital from a YOI is inhumane. Boys who have been transferred to institutions with better facilities should not have been initially sent to Cookham Wood.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Any delay in organising transfers to the adult estate for boys who have reached the age of 18 years is inhumane.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The lockdown highlighted Cookham Wood’s serious lack of IT facilities and telephone capacity. This greatly inhibited effective communication and planning with both parents and external agencies. The Purple Visits video call facility has not proved popular.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Boys at Cookham Wood were still subjected to a severely restricted regime and were locked in their room for long periods. They were restricted to ‘family bubbles’ and not allowed to mix for purposes of education or recreation.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The IMB believes that the continuation of ‘bubble’ restrictions on the boys’ association and activity for a full 17 months after the initial outbreak of the Covid pandemic was unjustified and oppressive. By the end of the year, there were well-developed and very encouraging plans to ‘rebuild landing communities’ and increase access to education. However, the IMB believes this should be developed and implemented urgently.
Resettlement/Release
Additional care and support are needed for long-sentenced boys (specifically those with extended or life sentences). Violent and/or disruptive 18-year-olds in YOIs can become ‘stuck’ awaiting transfer.
Education/Purposeful Activity
At the end of August 2021, there were no plans to return to full-time education at Cookham Wood. Schools in England returned to full-time education in March 2021.
Staffing
The service was unable to recruit a substantive Governor last year as a permanent replacement. Both the acting Governor and the deputy governor are temporary appointments. Cookham Wood will face further leadership churn in the future, suggesting a lack of leadership continuity.
Resettlement/Release
Youth offending teams in certain London boroughs were not always helpful in resolving issues regarding young people placed at Cookham Wood. This has caused difficulties for the resettlement team on several occasions throughout the reporting year.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Cookham Wood faced significant staffing challenges, with a total shortfall of 45 officers by August due to 17 vacancies and 28 officers in initial training. This led to inconsistencies in landing management and reduced time out of room for boys. A new staffing profile was under negotiation. The number of PE instructors dropped from nine to five, limiting purposeful activity. Officer movement between landings reduced closeness with boys, though many expressed a desire for more 1-to-1 support.
Healthcare
Primary healthcare is provided by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, and mental health services by Central and North West London Foundation Trust. Nurses maintained high standards, providing professional triage and primary care with no delays for GP or dental appointments. The mental health team is exceptionally well-resourced, supporting around 50 boys at any time. However, they were frustrated by limitations on access to boys and suitable therapy rooms. The chronic national shortage of secure mental health hospital beds remains a significant concern, leading to boys with complex mental health needs being held in the YOI for months.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime remained severely restricted due to Covid-19, with boys locked in their rooms for an average of 20 hours on weekdays and 21 hours at weekends. The continuation of 'bubble' restrictions for 17 months was deemed unjustified and oppressive, hindering personal development and staff morale. This fragmented the community, increased frustration, and limited officers to 'unlock and movement agents'. Despite plans for a new timetable to increase time out of room and purposeful activity, its implementation was delayed due to staff shortages, exacerbating the lack of engaging activities for boys.
Recommendations (15)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 8
Governor / Director: 5
3 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What urgent steps will be taken to work with ministerial colleagues in the Department of Health to provide more secure mental health services for children?
Ministry of Justice
mental_health
Recommendation 2
An urgent review of court procedures is required, to avoid children enduring long periods in prison while being held on remand – with the potential for at least some of them being found not guilty at the end of their long stay on remand.
Ministry of Justice
other
Recommendation 3
A return to a full regime of time out of room for education, physical exercise, dining out and association must be introduced urgently.
HMPPS
regime
Recommendation 4
However, the IMB believes this should be developed and implemented urgently.
HMPPS
regime
Recommendation 5
Prev. unaddressed
Sentence planning is required to ensure that young adults do not get stuck in YOIs pending transfer to the young adult estate.
HMPPS
resettlement
Recommendation 6
Prev. unaddressed
What steps will be taken to arrange transfers to the adult estate for young adults who are aged 18+ and have long sentences and/or complex needs?
HMPPS
resettlement
Recommendation 7
When will the YCS allow full-time education to resume for boys in Cookham Wood so they can return to pathway-based education ?
HMPPS
education
Recommendation 8
Is the YCS confident that an appointment of a substantive postholder to the role of Governor at Cookham Wood can be made? And will there be adequate plans in place to support a smooth leadership transition when this eventually takes place?
HMPPS
staffing
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
What will be done to increase IT and telephone communication facilities in YOIs? (See sections 8.1 and 8.2)
HMPPS
estate
Recommendation 10
What can the YCS do to monitor and support YOIs when dealing with youth offending teams? Is the staffing level for youth offending teams adequate?
HMPPS
resettlement
Recommendation 11
When will there be a revised timetable offering boys significant time out of room, a full education timetable and more purposeful activity time in larger groups?
Governor / Director
regime
Recommendation 12
As the lockdown restrictions are removed and a full regime is offered, there will be more opportunities for boy-on-boy assaults and bullying. How will the behaviour management policy be developed to address this?
Governor / Director
safety
Recommendation 13
What is the plan and timescale for the provision of full SECURE STAIRS support for all boys and staff?
Governor / Director
mental_health
Recommendation 14
Repeated
When will the refurbished Phoenix unit be opened as a functioning integrated care unit?
Governor / Director
estate
Recommendation 15
What will be done to improve the opportunities for boys of all faiths to attend collective/collegiate worship?
Governor / Director
equality
Other IMB Reports for Cookham Wood
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.
Prevention of Future Deaths Reports
Coroner PFD reports issued to this establishment.