Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Oakwood
IMB Annual Report 2021 · Published 24 August 2021
HMP Oakwood navigated the COVID-19 pandemic under a strict 22-23 hour lockdown regime, with staff showing exemplary commitment in maintaining a safe environment and humane treatment. Despite these efforts, the regime severely limited education, purposeful activity, and access to services, leading to concerns about sentence progression and mental health impacts. Key issues included the poor performance of the education provider Novus, persistent problems with prisoner property transfers, and challenges in managing transfers of vulnerable prisoners without appropriate medical information or COVID-19 testing.
Positive Findings
Staff and management showed exemplary commitment and dedication, especially during the COVID-19 lockdown, maintaining safety and humane treatment. The prison remained clean, and essential services like catering continued well. Reception and induction processes were professional, and the CSU staff were commended for their supportive environment and patient care.
Key Concerns
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
The almost complete absence of Novus from the prison. The Board has seen little or no evidence of any contribution by Novus during this period.
Other
Repeated
There are still no agreed protocols or systems in place for the secure transportation of prisoners’ property between prisons. The Board is further concerned regarding the levels of property that go missing following cell searches.
Healthcare
The Board is concerned regarding the number of incoming prisoners on transfer... who arrive with serious pre-existing illnesses and injuries, unannounced COVID-19 symptoms, or without either their prescribed medications or medical records. Additionally, prisoners were not routinely tested for COVID-19 on transfer into the prison.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Purple visits should continue to complement normal face-to-face visiting arrangements. However, a more reliable platform must be provided to improve the quality of the remote visiting. Prisoners have commented that, at times, they were not always aware of the arrangements for Purple Visits and exercise times, which appears to be linked to the lack of time available to the prisoners to use the kiosk during lockdown.
Safety
The Board is concerned that incidents where a ligature has been used are no longer recorded by the Prison Service. Although the number of incidents at Oakwood where a ligature is used is small, these incidents are of such concern that healthcare has responded to this by arranging for trauma shears to be standard equipment in healthcare emergency bags. The Board is concerned that the HMPPS letter dated 3 December 2020 continues to leave the position regarding ligatures unclear.
Resettlement/Release
In March 2020, HMPPS ordered no new offending behaviour programmes to be put in place until further notice. This continued for the duration of the lockdown period and was of concern to the prisoners in respect of problems completing their sentence plans and parole applications.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff demonstrated exemplary commitment and dedication, maintaining good relationships with prisoners despite difficult lockdown conditions. However, the number of trained ACCT assessors, case managers, and Listeners decreased during the reporting period. The key worker scheme continued under an Exceptional Delivery Model, prioritizing certain groups of prisoners.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision met the needs of the population, often exceeding community standards, despite challenges from COVID-19. Staff showed commitment, maintaining high levels of care, urgent interventions, and triage via virtual calls. A new isolation unit (Hazel) was opened, and reception staff diligently ensured new arrivals received necessary medication.
Regime & Daily Life
The prison operated under a severe 22-23 hour lockdown regime due to COVID-19, significantly restricting exercise, association, education, and purposeful activity. Efforts were made to mitigate the impact, including providing TVs, distraction packs, and maintaining timed exercise. Workshops and education largely ceased, impacting sentence progression.
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) | 45 | 38 | |
| Adjudications | 3 | 2 | |
| Family issues/Child contact | 25 | 20 | |
| General | 30 | 32 | |
| Healthcare | 104 | 85 | |
| Legal | 8 | 13 | |
| Property | 147 | 101 | |
| Race Relations/DIRFs | 1 | 1 | — |
| Segregation | 5 | 11 | |
| Staff behaviour | 4 | 12 | |
| TOTAL | 396 | 341 | |
| Visits (social, official, Purple) | 24 | 26 |
Recommendations (5)
Governor / Director: 5
2 repeated
Recommendation 1
The Director to review the condition and numbers of body worn cameras, to ensure that a reliable body worn camera is available to all relevant staff (see section 4.5).
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 2
The Director to ensure that the Board is notified, in advance, of all planned use of force incidents, as these required notifications have not happened during the reporting period. Members can, wherever possible, then attend and monitor accordingly.
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 3
The Director to review the range of alternative communication options in addition to communication via the kiosks on the wings. Prisoners have commented that, at times, they were not always aware of the arrangements for Purple Visits and exercise times, which appears to be linked to the lack of time available to the prisoners to use the kiosk during lockdown. The installation of a prison radio and TV would greatly enhance this.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Director to ensure that all instances of missing property are followed up, particularly in relation to cell searches.
Governor / Director
Other
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Director to ensure that the checking of phone numbers (PIN numbers) is done as soon as possible for prisoners transferring to the prison.
Governor / Director
Regime
Other IMB Reports for Oakwood
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
9 Apr 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 4
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.