Prison
Cat C training and resettlement
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Highpoint
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 25 June 2021
HMP Highpoint successfully navigated the Covid-19 pandemic, with prisoners adapting well and staff ensuring a fair and humane regime, leading to reductions in violence and self-harm. In-cell telephones and video visits significantly aided family contact. However, the Board raised concerns regarding the withdrawal of JobCentrePlus services, persistent issues with prisoner property transfers, and the quality of maintenance from Gov Facility Services Limited. Challenges also remain in ensuring timely mental health record transfers between establishments.
Positive Findings
The Board commends the Governor and staff for their significant efforts in maintaining a fair and humane regime during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to reductions in violence and self-harm. In-cell telephones and Purple Visits significantly aided family contact. The segregation unit continued to be run professionally, receiving commendation from HMIP. Staff-prisoner relationships were observed to be good, with professional de-escalation of incidents, and essential healthcare and pastoral support continued, adapting to remote provision where necessary.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
JobCentrePlus withdrew all support from the prison in March 2020. The Board asks the minister to investigate this action, in light of the fact that other services were maintained across the estate by remote means. The continuation or return of Covid restrictions should not deprive those due for release of this vital support.
Other
Repeated
Although the number of applications the Board receives concerning lost or delayed property has almost halved since last year, this is still a matter of great concern (see 5.8.1.and 5.8.2). The Board again asks the minister to undertake an urgent review into the handling of prisoners’ property.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Loss of access to library computers has highlighted a need for tablets/laptops to be available to prisoners for educational purposes. The Board wishes consideration to be given to this as a permanent provision.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The service provided by Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL) is still a major cause for concern. The Board requests an urgent review of the works maintenance contract to ensure it fully meets the ongoing needs of a challenging prison environment. Failure to do so seriously impacts on outcomes for the prisoners. (See 5.1.3)
Food/Catering
Repeated
The repair and maintenance of kitchen equipment has continued to be a problem. The Board asks that the relevant contract be reviewed, to support the ability of the prison to continue to provide a healthy and nourishing diet to the prisoners.
Mental Health
In order for mental health practitioners to provide timely interventions, there is a requirement for prisoner records to be transferred between establishments when a prisoner is relocated. The Board asks for a co-ordinated and regulated procedure to be established to ensure this happens.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
Whilst the Board acknowledges the impact of maintaining the prison regime during Covid, the hours allocated to the equalities officer are still a matter of concern. The Board asks for the consideration of an increase, or stability, in the pattern of hours allocated to this important post.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels were impacted by Covid-related absences and redeployments, affecting the full implementation of the key worker scheme, which the Board was unable to monitor effectively. Despite these challenges, staff turnover remained minimal, and staff-prisoner relationships were observed to be generally good, with professional de-escalation of incidents. However, issues persist with Gov Facility Services Limited's (GFSL) ability to recruit maintenance staff, impacting prison operations.
Healthcare
Healthcare, provided by Practice Plus Group, maintained GP and nurse-led services, though with limitations on clinic appointments and urgent-only cases. Dental treatment continued with telephone and face-to-face consultations. The mental health team provided essential support, including face-to-face work and distraction packs, despite a backlog caused by changes in external providers and delayed prisoner record transfers. The 7-day nurse-led service is not 24-hour, with out-of-hours emergencies handled by NHS 111.
Regime & Daily Life
The Governor and staff made significant efforts to maintain a humane regime during Covid-19, limiting time spent locked in cells where possible. Approximately 50% of prisoners were confined only during normal lock-up periods, while others received daily exercise and time for domestics/meals. Sanctions for basic regime prisoners, such as television removal, were suspended to support well-being. Vocational and training courses were largely unavailable, but distance learning continued.
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 | 7 | 17 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 1 | 17 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 16 | 26 | |
| Equality | 3 | 9 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 7 | 10 | |
| Food and kitchens | 11 | 9 | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 24 | 52 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 7 | 26 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 14 | 33 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 41 | 83 | |
| Property within this establishment | 15 | 50 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 6 | 34 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 30 | 36 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 20 | 44 | |
| Transfers | 12 | 34 |
Recommendations (10)
Ministry of Justice: 3
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 4
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
JobCentrePlus withdrew all support from the prison in March 2020. The Board asks the minister to investigate this action, in light of the fact that other services were maintained across the estate by remote means. The continuation or return of Covid restrictions should not deprive those due for release of this vital support.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Although the number of applications the Board receives concerning lost or delayed property has almost halved since last year, this is still a matter of great concern (see 5.8.1.and 5.8.2). The Board again asks the minister to undertake an urgent review into the handling of prisoners’ property.
Ministry of Justice
Other
Recommendation 3
Loss of access to library computers has highlighted a need for tablets/laptops to be available to prisoners for educational purposes. The Board wishes consideration to be given to this as a permanent provision.
Ministry of Justice
Education
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The service provided by Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL) is still a major cause for concern. The Board requests an urgent review of the works maintenance contract to ensure it fully meets the ongoing needs of a challenging prison environment. Failure to do so seriously impacts on outcomes for the prisoners. (See 5.1.3)
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The repair and maintenance of kitchen equipment has continued to be a problem. The Board asks that the relevant contract be reviewed, to support the ability of the prison to continue to provide a healthy and nourishing diet to the prisoners.
HMPPS
Food
Recommendation 6
In order for mental health practitioners to provide timely interventions, there is a requirement for prisoner records to be transferred between establishments when a prisoner is relocated. The Board asks for a co-ordinated and regulated procedure to be established to ensure this happens.
HMPPS
Mental Health
Recommendation 7
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Whilst the Board acknowledges the impact of maintaining the prison regime during Covid, the hours allocated to the equalities officer are still a matter of concern. The Board asks for the consideration of an increase, or stability, in the pattern of hours allocated to this important post.
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 8
The Board hopes the provision of a dedicated wing for those prisoners wanting to engage fully with drug recovery programmes can go ahead in the near future.
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Recommendation 9
The Board asks the governor to look proactively to appointing a suitably qualified person to the kitchen staff, who can support prisoners in obtaining an NVQ qualification, as a positive outcome of the experience gained by working there.
Governor / Director
Purposeful Activity
Recommendation 10
The Board recommends that consideration is given to the continuation of purple visits (a secure video calling platform) after restrictions are lifted. This would provide an alternative means of family contact where distance makes visiting difficult. (See 7.4.3)
Governor / Director
Family Contact
Other IMB Reports for Highpoint
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
16 Oct 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 4
Activity: 1
Release: 2
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.