Prison
Cat YOI, Category C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Brinsford
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 15 December 2021
Despite a severely restricted Covid-19 regime, HMP/YOI Brinsford is deemed a safe prison where prisoners are treated fairly. While incidents of violence, self-harm, and substance misuse have reduced due to lockdown, persistent issues include delays in transferring prisoners with mental health needs and an education contract that largely failed to meet prisoner requirements for much of the reporting period.
Positive Findings
Despite a very restricted regime due to Covid-19, staff ensured a safe prison and fair treatment. Healthcare provision by Practice Plus Group was good, with effective management of pandemic challenges and low transmission rates. There were reductions in self-harm and violence, and improvements in the use of force documentation. The multi-faith centre provides excellent support, and the introduction of in-cell telephones and Purple Visits significantly helped maintain family contact during lockdown.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
The information technology (IT) at Brinsford is old and failing, and needs to be updated. Long periods without a working network are potentially dangerous and, even at its best, this makes it difficult for staff to do their jobs well.
Other
Prisoners held on immigration status are kept far too long before transfer to an immigration removal centre or their home country.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The fabric of Brinsford is in a poor state and therefore needs a great deal of investment to return it to a reasonable state.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
There are too few activity places, particularly for those prisoners who are over the age of 21. Every prisoner should have the opportunity to work or have education, and Brinsford is around 100 places short of being able to deliver that.
Safety
There have been far too many transfers between establishments, particularly during the pandemic, for what appear to be operational reasons; however, when Brinsford staff members feel that a prisoner needs to be moved urgently, it seems to be very difficult to find a place elsewhere. Bringing in a number of prisoners from other establishments makes the gang problem more difficult to manage.
Resettlement/Release
When prisoners are recategorised, it is often a long time before they are moved.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The education contract is not fit for purpose. It has always proved very difficult to hold the provider to account, to ensure that the prison gets good education provision. Any new contracts need to be much tighter in what must be provided and how prisons can be compensated for services not provided.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
The management of prisoner property in the establishment and the transfer of property between establishments continues to cause many problems, including prisoner anger and claims for compensation. A new policy and procedure have been many years in the development stage and need to be implemented urgently.
Staffing
The key worker scheme needs to be brought back to at least its pre-pandemic levels, and further improved. It was understandably reduced owing to staff shortages. Officers need support and, possibly, further training to get the scheme to work as it should, to support prisoners.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff turnover remains high, impacting care quality and staff-prisoner relationships. The key worker programme suffered significantly due to Covid-19 staff shortages and redeployments, leading to officer reluctance and frustration. The Board notes management's intent to re-prioritise the scheme, acknowledging that staff shortages caused programme reductions.
Healthcare
Practice Plus Group provides good healthcare, and staff expertly managed Covid-19 challenges with low transmission rates. While mental health caseloads have reduced, delays in transferring patients to specialised care remain a concern. Nursing and healthcare staff are commended for their excellent care and reduction in prisoners requiring constant watch.
Regime & Daily Life
The Covid-19 pandemic severely restricted the regime, with prisoners often locked in cells for 23 hours a day and reduced outdoor exercise. While in-cell telephones and activities helped mitigate isolation, the Board notes slow progress towards a normal regime. Education is moving to a blended learning model due to limited spaces and time out of cell.
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 | 2 | |
| CANTEEN, FACILITY LIST, CATALOGUE(S) | 2 | 2 | — |
| DISCIPLINE, INCLUDING ADJUDICATIONS, IEP, SANCTIONS | 2 | 1 | |
| EQUALITY | 0 | 0 | |
| FINANCE, INCLUDING PAY, PRIVATE MONIES, SPENDS | 2 | 1 | |
| FOOD AND KITCHENS | 0 | 0 | |
| HEALTH, INCLUDING PHYSICAL, MENTAL, SOCIAL CARE | 6 | 8 | |
| LETTERS, VISITS, TELEPHONES, PUBLIC PROTECTION RESTRICTIONS | 7 | 11 | |
| MISCELLANEOUS, INCLUDING COMPLAINTS SYSTEM | 0 | 0 | |
| PROPERTY DURING TRANSFER OR IN ANOTHER ESTABLISHMENT OR LOCATION | 2 | 5 | |
| PROPERTY WITHIN THIS ESTABLISHMENT | 1 | 10 | |
| PURPOSEFUL ACTIVITY, INCLUDING EDUCATION, WORK, TRAINING, LIBRARY, REGIME, TIME OUT OF CELL | 2 | 1 | |
| SENTENCE MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING HOME DETENTION CURFEW, RELEASE ON TEMPORARY LICENCE, PAROLE, RELEASE DATES, RECATEGORISATION | 8 | 11 | |
| STAFF/PRISONER CONCERNS, INCLUDING BULLYING | 7 | 11 | |
| TRANSFERS | 0 | 5 |
Recommendations (11)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 6
Governor / Director: 3
Home Office: 1
5 repeated
Recommendation 1
The information technology (IT) at Brinsford is old and failing, and needs to be updated. Long periods without a working network are potentially dangerous and, even at its best, this makes it difficult for staff to do their jobs well. Investment in a good IT system would improve many outcomes for staff and prisoners.
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The fabric of Brinsford is in a poor state and therefore needs a great deal of investment to return it to a reasonable state.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
More places are needed in both education and work-based activities. Quicker entry onto courses would make a big difference to our short-sentence prisoners and would provide a better way forward.
Governor / Director
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 2
Prisoners held on immigration status are kept far too long before transfer to an immigration removal centre or their home country.
Home Office
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
There are too few activity places, particularly for those prisoners who are over the age of 21. Every prisoner should have the opportunity to work or have education, and Brinsford is around 100 places short of being able to deliver that.
HMPPS
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 2
Visits need to return to pre-pandemic levels as soon as it is safe. Purple Visits have been useful and should be continued for any prisoners who cannot receive face-to-face visits.
Governor / Director
Family Contact
Recommendation 3
There have been far too many transfers between establishments, particularly during the pandemic, for what appear to be operational reasons; however, when Brinsford staff members feel that a prisoner needs to be moved urgently, it seems to be very difficult to find a place elsewhere. Bringing in a number of prisoners from other establishments makes the gang problem more difficult to manage, although it needs to be understood that these moves have to be in the best interests of the prisoner concerned.
HMPPS
Safety
Recommendation 3
The key worker scheme needs to be brought back to at least its pre-pandemic levels, and further improved. It was understandably reduced owing to staff shortages. Officers need support and, possibly, further training to get the scheme to work as it should, to support prisoners.
Governor / Director
Staffing
Recommendation 4
When prisoners are recategorised, it is often a long time before they are moved.
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The education contract is not fit for purpose. It has always proved very difficult to hold the provider to account, to ensure that the prison gets good education provision. Any new contracts need to be much tighter in what must be provided and how prisons can be compensated for services not provided.
HMPPS
Education
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The management of prisoner property in the establishment and the transfer of property between establishments continues to cause many problems, including prisoner anger and claims for compensation. A new policy and procedure have been many years in the development stage and need to be implemented urgently.
HMPPS
Complaints
Other IMB Reports for Brinsford
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
5 Jun 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.