Prison
Cat D, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Hatfield
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 30 November 2021
HMP/YOI Hatfield operated safely and humanely during a challenging year (Apr 2020 - Mar 2021) impacted by COVID-19. The Board found healthcare, education, work provision, and resettlement efforts to be good, despite pandemic restrictions. Staff morale remained high and strong leadership was noted. Key challenges included the impact of COVID-19 on ROTL and family visits, property issues on transfer, and reduced face-to-face service for some healthcare and equality functions.
Positive Findings
The IMB reported that HMP/YOI Hatfield remained a safe environment for both prisoners and staff throughout the challenging reporting year. The Board commended the Governor and staff for their hard work, commitment, and strong leadership which maintained high morale and positive working practices amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Significant investment in fire safety improvements and a planned new accommodation unit for D and E blocks were welcomed. Physical and mental healthcare, education, work opportunities, and resettlement support were found to be well-managed and effective. The prison also innovatively adapted to COVID-19 restrictions, for example, by accommodating Parole Hearings via secure video link or telephone.
Key Concerns
Regime/Time Out of Cell
COVID-19 has had a significant impact on ROTL over the year and consequently on Parole Boards.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Units D and E are to be demolished... The previous units were in constant need of repair and maintenance.
Resettlement/Release
Property can be an issue for prisoners transferring into Hatfield from closed establishments. Escort contractors bring only a fixed number of bags with the prisoner and on occasion some property is left behind.
Other
IMB visits to the establishment was minimal due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Healthcare
Healthcare delivery provision was equivalent to what service users experienced in the Community throughout the COVID-19 restrictions, with routine clinical reviews of Long-Term Conditions (LTC) suspended. There was some delay in appointments for Hospital Outpatient referrals, with a two week wait for urgent/emergency appointments.
Healthcare
Access to the Dental Service via HMP Moorland ceased in March 2020. Alternatively, a Dental Practice in Barnsley offered a telephone triage service and provided a service to urgent cases only.
Equality/Diversity
Equality and Fairness committee... during the pandemic the meeting had to be suspended.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels across all grades remained stable, with high engagement scores reported in the 2020 Staff Survey. The Officer group showed little movement, and the Senior Management Team was also stable. The prison successfully completed a recruitment/restructure under the Offender Management In Custody (OMIC) model, strengthening middle management. Staffing levels were well-managed during the COVID-19 pandemic, with high uptake of testing. In healthcare, there were two vacant Registered General Nurse positions.
Healthcare
Healthcare, provided by Practice Plus Group, was found to be well-managed and accessible to all men. However, COVID-19 restrictions led to the suspension of routine clinical reviews for Long-Term Conditions and some delays in hospital outpatient referrals. GP appointments were remote, and optometry, podiatry, and physiotherapy services were reduced or triaged. Dental services via HMP Moorland ceased, replaced by a telephone triage service for urgent cases. Mental healthcare provision was maintained, though without an increase in mental health problems, prisoners reported feeling "fed-up."
Regime & Daily Life
Despite COVID-19 restrictions, HMP Hatfield made significant efforts to maintain as normal a regime as possible, keeping men and staff safe. This included sustaining education and workshop provisions where feasible, and enabling significant numbers of prisoners (50+) to continue working in the community. However, Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) and family visits were largely suspended, replaced by digi-visits. Meals were taken in rooms, and gym access was structured, but good access to open-air exercise was maintained. In-cell learning packs were introduced, and face-to-face learning recommenced later in the year.
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 | 2 | — | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 1 | — | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 1 | — | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 1 | — | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 1 | — | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 2 | — | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 2 | — | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 2 | — | |
| Transfers | 2 | — |
Other IMB Reports for Hatfield
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
15 Jul 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 4
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.