Prison
Cat D open, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Kirklevington Grange
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 7 July 2021
HMP/YOI Kirklevington Grange, an open category D prison, operated during 2020 under significant COVID-19 constraints. The Board commended staff for their response to the pandemic, maintaining a safe environment with no deaths and improved healthcare. However, key concerns include the urgent need for capital investment in the aging estate, persistent issues with prisoner property transfers, long waiting times for mental health services, and the negative impact of COVID-19 restrictions on prisoner regime, education, and resettlement opportunities.
Positive Findings
The Board commended the Governor, officers, and staff for their exceptional performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, successfully managing the situation with no deaths and few serious incidents. The prison maintained a well-run operation, with most prisoners reporting positive experiences and satisfaction with staff and healthcare services. Significant estate improvements were noted, including boiler replacements, gym repairs, and a television system upgrade. The kitchen received a five-star food hygiene rating, and initiatives like the 'Little Sprouts' charity partnership were successfully implemented.
Key Concerns
Estate/Conditions
The estate of Kirklevington is still in need of substantial maintenance, and this has been evidenced by the fact of three units being taken out of use, resulting in an operational capacity of only 163 prisoners, a reduction of 120.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Prisoner property during transfer was still being mislaid or even lost.
Substance Misuse
Illicit drugs being still an issue within the prison.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Boredom was an issue for prisoners at the weekend, with many requests for additional television channels.
Mental Health
The average waiting time to see a psychiatrist was nine weeks.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Lower-level learners have been the most disadvantaged, and motivation has suffered, with a higher level of withdrawal from education than seen previously or than is desirable due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Monitored video calls (Purple Visits) were implemented but this was frustrated by very poor information technology infrastructure and many failed contacts, so uptake declined.
Resettlement/Release
As a result of a change of HSBC bank policy, prisoners were unable to obtain a bank card before their release, at a time when banks were often declining access to their branches.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staff were commended for their performance and immediate response to changing situations during the COVID-19 pandemic, effectively managing prisoner frustrations with honesty and timeliness. Exit reviews indicated high satisfaction among prisoners regarding staff helpfulness and respect. Despite unprecedented absences and increased workload due to regime changes and risk assessments, staff coped admirably.
Healthcare
Healthcare services, transitioning from G4S to Spectrum, showed marked improvement with reduced waiting times for appointments, often comparable to or better than external services. Staff managed the COVID-19 pandemic remarkably well, with only seven prisoner diagnoses and no hospitalisations or deaths. While GP and nurse appointments were timely, there was a nine-week waiting time to see a psychiatrist. Chronic conditions were managed by a dedicated nurse, and a DART team provided substance misuse support with release referrals.
Regime & Daily Life
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the prison regime, leading to a cessation of face-to-face education, reduced work opportunities, and restrictions on family visits and ROTL. Boredom was an issue for prisoners, especially at weekends, although additional television channels were introduced to mitigate this. Video calling via 'Purple Visits' was implemented but suffered from poor IT infrastructure and low uptake. Community work places reduced, and annual group worship and cultural events were scaled back or cancelled.
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 | 4 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 0 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 6 | 1 | |
| Equality | 0 | 0 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 3 | 3 | — |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 0 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 10 | 7 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 3 | 3 | — |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 4 | 3 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 3 | 2 | |
| Property within this establishment | 1 | 1 | — |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 6 | 2 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, recategorization | 9 | 14 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 2 | 2 | — |
| Transfers | 2 | — |
Recommendations (2)
Ministry of Justice: 1
HMPPS: 1
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
When will capital funding be released for replacement blocks and infrastructure works?
Ministry of Justice
Estate
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Can the process be resolved with some urgency?
HMPPS
Complaints
Response
It is appreciated that HMPPS nationally is aware of this and is looking for a solution.
Other IMB Reports for Kirklevington Grange
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
2 Sep 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 4
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.