Prison
Cat Open, Category D, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Hollesley Bay
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 29 April 2021
Hollesley Bay, an open Category D YOI, navigated 2020 amid significant COVID-19 challenges, which impacted purposeful activity, education, and healthcare provision. The Board commended the prison's leadership and staff for their response to the pandemic and for maintaining a safe and humane environment. Key areas for development include improving the physical estate, enhancing training and education, and implementing a more systematic approach to prisoner development.
Positive Findings
The Board welcomed the prison's new strategy and its clear communication of values. Hollesley Bay is considered a safe place where prisoners are treated fairly, humanely, and with dignity. The Board commended the healthcare team for their continued provision of services during the pandemic and noted the effective use of Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) for rehabilitation. Positive developments include increased external employment opportunities and good relationships between the IMB and prison staff.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
The Board recognises and fully supports the increased efforts being put into securing training and employment opportunities for prisoners within the local community and in the ‘workshop’ environment in the prison itself. However, it is also recognised that a more systematic approach towards individual prisoner development (with initial prisoner assessment followed up with an actively monitored action plan) would be enormously beneficial to the prisoners themselves and to those who provide the services. It would lead to a greater focus on ‘what works and what matters’.
Education/Purposeful Activity
On a national scale, the recommendations of the review of education provision in the UK’s prisons, undertaken by Dame Sally Coates over five years ago, should be revisited, with any good practice identified from a prison within the UK promoted and considered for adoption across the entire Prison Service. In addition, of particular note during the COVID-19 pandemic, is recommendation 13 of that report, that: ‘Governors should be free to design a framework of incentives that encourage attendance and progression in education’.
Estate/Conditions
that a comprehensive review is undertaken of the physical condition of HMP Hollesley Bay, and that a capital programme is established for both the refurbishment and, where necessary, the replacement of the existing facilities
Education/Purposeful Activity
that courses and educational opportunities offered within prisons are more varied and reflect the vacancies within the job markets more accurately, and that funding is made available to assist prisoners to become suitably qualified via courses that traditionally have been excluded because they are more expensive to run. While it is recognised there has been significant progress made in increasing the number of opportunities for work placements outside the prison, there is an underlying question as to whether the quality of educational and training provision at Hollesley Bay could be enhanced, thereby improving prisoners’ chances of employment upon release.
Food/Catering
Repeated
The Board considers that the food at the prison, especially lunch, consisting of soup, a baguette and a small packet of crisps, is just about adequate but little more. This was reported last year and in the previous year.
Healthcare
Dentistry, ophthalmic and podiatry care has adhered to the COVID-19 guidelines issued by Public Health England, which has inevitably resulted in a lesser service than previously offered. To give an indication of the size of this backlog, there were no treatments carried out for the period April to June; this resumed in July, August and September, when 44 emergency appointments were carried out, and in the final quarter of 2020 (October, November and December) there were 181 booked appointments
Safety
The Listener scheme was maintained throughout the year but saw the number of trained Listeners fall to just three, all living in the same residential block. The reduction occurred because of prisoners leaving the prison and the difficulties in recruiting replacements – again, due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
A residents (prisoners) council was introduced in 2019 and this continues to offer a constructive contribution towards prison life. As with many prison activities, the council was less effective during 2020.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels fluctuated, particularly in healthcare, where new roles were filled and a clinical lead officer was dedicated to the prison. However, the Listener scheme saw a reduction in trained members due to recruitment difficulties and prisoner departures during the pandemic. A dedicated staff member was recruited to enhance external employment opportunities for prisoners.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision faced significant challenges in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to adaptations in working patterns and the suspension of some routine appointments, particularly dental care. Despite this, emergency care continued, and the Board commended the healthcare team. A new GP contract was established, and staffing in healthcare roles was bolstered. Mental health services saw 928 appointments, with approximately 15% of the population having mental health issues.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime at Hollesley Bay, particularly purposeful activity, was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. While prisoners typically engage in work or training, including external employment, these opportunities were significantly reduced. Education shifted to work packs, and essential services like drug and alcohol group support were suspended. Despite the challenges, the prison encouraged greater prisoner independence with in-unit cooking facilities and maintained access to extensive grounds for exercise.
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 | 0 | 3 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 0 | |
| Discipline including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 0 | 0 | |
| Equality | 1 | 1 | — |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 0 | 0 | |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 1 | — |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 5 | 8 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 0 | 1 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 2 | 1 | |
| Property within this establishment | 0 | 4 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 7 | 5 | |
| Sentence management including home detention curfew, ROTL, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 5 | 5 | — |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 1 | 0 | |
| Transfers | 1 | 5 |
Recommendations (5)
Other: 2
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 1
Recommendation 1
The Board recognises and fully supports the increased efforts being put into securing training and employment opportunities for prisoners within the local community and in the ‘workshop’ environment in the prison itself. However, it is also recognised that a more systematic approach towards individual prisoner development (with initial prisoner assessment followed up with an actively monitored action plan) would be enormously beneficial to the prisoners themselves and to those who provide the services. It would lead to a greater focus on ‘what works and what matters’.
Other
(minister)
Resettlement
Recommendation 2
On a national scale, the recommendations of the review of education provision in the UK’s prisons, undertaken by Dame Sally Coates over five years ago, should be revisited, with any good practice identified from a prison within the UK promoted and considered for adoption across the entire Prison Service. In addition, of particular note during the COVID-19 pandemic, is recommendation 13 of that report, that: ‘Governors should be free to design a framework of incentives that encourage attendance and progression in education’.
Other
(minister)
Education
Recommendation 3
that a comprehensive review is undertaken of the physical condition of HMP Hollesley Bay, and that a capital programme is established for both the refurbishment and, where necessary, the replacement of the existing facilities
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
that courses and educational opportunities offered within prisons are more varied and reflect the vacancies within the job markets more accurately, and that funding is made available to assist prisoners to become suitably qualified via courses that traditionally have been excluded because they are more expensive to run.
HMPPS
Education
Recommendation 5
While it is recognised there has been significant progress made in increasing the number of opportunities for work placements outside the prison, there is an underlying question as to whether the quality of educational and training provision at Hollesley Bay could be enhanced, thereby improving prisoners’ chances of employment upon release.
Governor / Director
Education
Other IMB Reports for Hollesley Bay
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
3 Apr 2024
Unannounced
Safety: 4
Respect: 4
Activity: 3
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.