Prison
Cat C
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Wymott
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 12 October 2020
Overall the Board considers that prisoners are relatively safe at Wymott, despite increased self-harm and violence. Significant concerns remain regarding the unacceptable standard of accommodation on some wings, persistent healthcare staffing shortages, and long waits for mental health transfers. The closure of the therapeutic community and issues with prisoner property on transfer are also key areas of worry for the Board.
Positive Findings
The Board considers prisoners relatively safe, noting favourable comparisons to other prisons. They commend the safer living team, the "Bus to Bed" induction, and efforts to shield vulnerable prisoners during COVID-19. Healthcare has seen improvements with an in-house pharmacy, and education classes are positively rated. Significant progress has been made with the OMiC model and pre-release programs, with strong links forged with local employers. The Governor continues to be supportive of the Board's work.
Key Concerns
Safety
Levels of self harm and violence have both gone up since last year.
Substance Misuse
The prevalence of drugs remains a significant cause of bullying and debt.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The accommodation on A and B wings is not of an acceptable standard, with repeated failures in the heating, hot water and sanitation.
Other
Repeated
Issues with prisoners’ property going missing on transfer continue, despite HMPPS assurances last year.
Mental Health
Repeated
Mental healthcare continues to be of concern, with staff shortages and long waits for places in secure units meaning some prisoners are not receiving appropriate treatment in a timely manner.
Substance Misuse
The closure of the drug-free therapeutic community during the pandemic has seriously impacted the support available to prisoners trying to come off drugs.
Mental Health
Too many prisoners with severe mental health problems get stuck in prisons, often in segregation units, because there are not enough places in secure psychiatric units.
Food/Catering
Repeated
The capacity of the kitchen remains a problem, leading to continuous equipment failure and adding pressure on staff.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels have improved overall, with more diverse officers on wings, though some staff shortages persist in healthcare and workshops, leading to cancelled services. While key worker sessions significantly improved earlier in the year, concerns were raised about their sustainability and suspension during lockdown. The OMiC model has benefited from increased staffing, enhancing prisoner progression.
Healthcare
Healthcare provision has seen some improvements, particularly with an in-house pharmacy, but significant issues persist. The healthcare centre is too small and often overcrowded, and staffing shortages lead to cancelled clinics and delayed medication. Mental healthcare remains a concern due to staff shortfalls and long waits for transfers to secure units. The closure of the drug-free therapeutic community during the pandemic is also a key worry.
Regime & Daily Life
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly curtailed the prison regime from March 2020, leading to the suspension of education, workshops, offending behaviour programs, and gym access. While the Board notes efforts to provide in-cell activities and increase time out of cell post-lockdown, purposeful activity in the CSU remains limited. Prior to the pandemic, concerns included prisoners self-isolating and cancelled library sessions due to staff shortages.
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 | 12 | 11 | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 3 | 9 | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 23 | 28 | |
| Equality | 3 | 4 | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 13 | 23 | |
| Food and kitchens | 7 | 7 | — |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 42 | 81 | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 45 | 51 | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 15 | 22 | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 31 | 23 | |
| Property within this establishment | 29 | 37 | |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 37 | 45 | |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 48 | 37 | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 27 | 35 | |
| Transfers | 18 | 29 |
Recommendations (9)
Ministry of Justice: 1
NHS / Healthcare Provider: 1
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 4
6 repeated
Recommendation 1
Wymott still holds a significant number of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection. Are there any plans to give these men some cause for optimism?
Ministry of Justice
Progression
Recommendation 2
Too many prisoners with severe mental health problems get stuck in prisons, often in segregation units, because there are not enough place in secure psychiatric units (see paragraph 5.2.2). There is a desperate need for more of these places.
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Mental Health
Recommendation 3
Repeated
The Board appreciates the investment that has gone into the boiler house and the services to A and B wings (see section 5.1). Will there be funding available in the next year for the major refurbishment still needed on these wings?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
There continue to be issues with prisoners’ property going missing on transfer. Last year Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) assured the Board that the new Prisoners’ Property Framework would improve the service, but we have yet to see evidence of that (see section 5.8).
HMPPS
Property
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The capacity of the kitchen remains a problem (see paragraph 5.1.5). Last year Wymott’s bid for a new kitchen was turned down. Can HMPPS give any indication of a timescale for funding adequate kitchen facilities?
HMPPS
Food
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
The Board remains concerned about the regular cancellation of prisoner forums, particularly the healthcare forum (see also section 3.4).
Governor / Director
Complaints
Recommendation 7
Repeated
The lack of supervision of prisoners in the library, and cancellation of sessions due to shortage of escort staff have been a cause of concern to the Board (see paragraph 7.1.11). Can this be addressed via detailing?
Governor / Director
Education
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Management of the delivery of healthcare appointment slips remains problematic (see paragraph 6.2.4). Can a more reliable method be found?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 9
The Board is concerned that the drug-free therapeutic community has had to be closed during the pandemic (see paragraph 6.6.3), and would seek reassurance that it will be reinstated.
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Other IMB Reports for Wymott
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
11 Dec 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 2
Activity: 2
Release: 4
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.
Prevention of Future Deaths Reports
Coroner PFD reports issued to this establishment.