Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Stafford
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 21 September 2021
This IMB annual report for HMP Stafford, a Category C training prison, covers a period significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Key concerns include persistent poor medicines management, deteriorating staff-resident relationships, and the challenges of a highly restrictive regime compounded by a lack of in-cell telephony. Positive aspects noted were low violence and drug levels, successful vaccine rollout, and comprehensive in-cell activity provision.
Positive Findings
The report highlights commendable staff attitudes and low levels of violence and drugs, with residents often feeling safe. The Board welcomed physical improvements, the nearing completion of the SCU, and the availability of the 0800 Freephone and Purple Visits. All released residents secured accommodation, and the in-cell education packs received high satisfaction.
Key Concerns
Healthcare
Repeated
All elements of medicines management are non-comparable to the general community and totally unacceptable on the grounds of resident health safety, especially regarding repeat prescriptions and medication delivery gaps.
Staffing
A significant number of residents reported being treated unfairly or without respect by staff, with only 65% of survey respondents feeling respected and over 15% reporting negative officer conduct, including instances of bullying and discrimination.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The lack of in-cell telephony places significant pressure on wing pin phones, forcing residents to choose between communication with loved ones and essential outdoor exercise, and the national rollout appears delayed.
Overcrowding
The Population Management Unit (PMU) is not adequately considering the suitability of residents transferred to HMP Stafford, leading to arrivals who cannot manage the prison's stairs or require end-of-life care without prior discussion, placing unfair pressure on staff and detrimentally affecting the resident.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The IEP scheme is poorly understood and perceived as ineffective by over 60% of residents, with some believing it rewards poor behaviour and provides no incentive to progress beyond basic or standard levels.
Resettlement/Release
There is a disparity in call charges, making calls from wing phones more expensive than in-cell phones, placing residents at a disadvantage and negatively impacting their mental health and family contacts.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff attitudes and resilience during the pandemic were commendable, despite significant leadership changes. While there is staff stability with many long-serving members fostering relationships, there are concerns about their adaptability to change and a noticeable decline in staff-resident relationships, with only 65% of residents feeling respected. The Board noted over 15% of survey responses contained negative comments about officer conduct and recommends an action plan to address these issues.
Healthcare
The primary concern for healthcare is medicines management, which the Board found "totally unacceptable" and a repeated issue, despite some improvement in officer supervision at hatches. While 61% of residents rated healthcare as good/reasonable and mental health outcomes were better than anticipated during lockdown, there were issues with overnight healthcare provision and a doctor shortage requiring locum cover. Public Health England was satisfied with Covid-19 management, and vaccinations were completed for eligible groups.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime was severely restricted during the pandemic, with residents often experiencing a 23-hour lockdown, allowing only one hour daily for essential activities. This limited time out of cell forced difficult choices between phone calls and outdoor exercise due to a lack of in-cell telephony. To mitigate boredom, the prison successfully implemented a wide range of in-cell activities, distraction packs, library trolley services, and provided games consoles and DVD players.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 2 | 2 | — |
| Discrimination | 0 | 0 | |
| Food | 0 | 0 | |
| General (including transfers) | 13 | 14 | |
| Healthcare | 2 | 2 | — |
| Property | 1 | 0 | |
| Work/Education | 0 | 1 |
Recommendations (9)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 4
Governor / Director: 2
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
In order to protect residents and prison staff, will the Minister seek the elevation of prison staff to the equivalent of front line healthcare workers such that, should we ever experience another pandemic, they will be amongst the first groups provided with highly effective personal protective equipment (PPE) and vaccination/treatment?
Ministry of Justice
Safety
Recommendation 2
Prev. unaddressed
Due to the failure of HMPPS over recent years to address the issue, will the Minister ensure that the pay inequalities between what residents can earn within a private prison versus a state run prison are removed?
Ministry of Justice
Regime
Recommendation 3
Will the Minister ensure that funding and resourcing of the 0800 telephone number that enabled residents to submit IMB Apps over the phone is maintained as this proved to be such a powerful means of communication with residents during the last 12 months?
Ministry of Justice
Complaints
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Will HMPPS ensure that HMP Stafford and Practice Plus Group initiate, with immediate effect, a medicines management system that, unlike now, does not impair the safety of its residents and is put under close supervision until ALL previous recommendations (PPO, CQC, HMIP, etc.) have been fully and successfully delivered?
HMPPS
Healthcare
Recommendation 5
Will HMPPS provide direction to the population management unit (PMU) that they must take more responsibility regarding the suitability of residents they transfer to HMP Stafford (e.g. residents who cannot manage stairs yet the sending prison has categorised them as fit and well)? Inappropriate transfer of the kind seen during the period of this report places unfair pressure on prison staff and and is to the detriment of the transferring resident at all levels (safety, fair and humane treatment, health and wellbeing).
HMPPS
Overcrowding
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Given the inability of HMPPS to deploy across much of the prison estate in-cell phones, as exampled by HMP Stafford, will they ensure that the disparity of call charges is removed so that it is no longer more expensive to make a call from a wing phone, rather than an in-cell phone? This lack of in-cell phones puts residents at a distinct disadvantage; a situation detrimental to their mental health, contacts with family and subsequent resettlement chances.
HMPPS
Regime
Recommendation 7
Given that HMP Stafford is a national facility for People Convicted Of Sexual Offences (PCOSO) and hence the difficulties and long distances often experienced by residents’ relatives when visiting the establishment, will HMPPS consider firstly maintaining the Purple Visit scheme and secondly extending it to incorporate evenings and weekends?
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 8
Will the Governor ensure that specialist debt advice is re-introduced as a service to the residents?
Governor / Director
Resettlement
Recommendation 9
Given the many negative comments of the Residents’ Survey regarding staff/resident relationships will the Governor put in place an action plan that is aimed at rectifying these issues?
Governor / Director
Respect
Other IMB Reports for Stafford
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
19 Nov 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 3
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.