Prison
Cat B
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Lowdham Grange
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 15 July 2020
HMP Lowdham Grange generally provides fair and humane treatment, evidenced by a positive regime and improved staffing stability. Violence has decreased, and healthcare provision is seeing significant improvements, although challenges remain with mental health transfers and inadequate accommodation. Concerns persist regarding property loss, the consistency of the key worker scheme, and slow progress for IPP prisoners, along with ongoing issues in education and access to local prisons for release planning.
Positive Findings
The IMB commends HMP Lowdham Grange for generally treating prisoners fairly and humanely, with the regime built on a positive ethos, as exemplified by the Social Responsibility Unit's approach. Staffing levels across the prison have stabilised, contributing to improved relationships and a reduction in violence. Significant improvements in healthcare include additional funding, a new pharmacy, and the development of a wellbeing centre. Education provision is also seeing a revitalisation with a wider range of courses and a new digital learning system. The prison's efforts in maintaining family ties and supporting prisoners through programmes like START are also noted positively.
Key Concerns
Other
the loss of prisoners’ property on transfer from other prisons
Complaints/Property
the perception that some hold that the prisoner information and amenities committee fails to make swift progress to remedy issues raised
Safety
body-worn cameras are not worn as routinely as they should be, which makes elements of the regime difficult to monitor
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The key worker scheme is not yet working as consistently as it is meant to
Resettlement/Release
the slow progress being made towards the release of prisoners serving indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP)
Education/Purposeful Activity
the relatively slow progress towards improving education provision
Resettlement/Release
the apparent unwillingness or inability of local prisons to take Lowdham Grange prisoners in the months leading up to their release
Mental Health
Repeated
the unavailability of suitable alternative provision for prisoners who are diagnosed with severe mental health issues, in order to prevent the need for prisons to hold them in segregation for extended periods
Safety
the increase in the number of serious assaults
Estate/Conditions
Healthcare accommodation... remains unfit for purpose as it is far too small for the current prison population.
Staffing
recruitment and retention of appropriately qualified staff. There is a shortfall of six tutors, as of February 2020
Board Commentary
Staffing
HMP Lowdham Grange has achieved and maintained a full staffing complement, a result of the Director's recruitment and retention strategy, including new recruit training and a mentoring scheme. This stability has led to a more experienced officer profile and better-staffed wings, particularly in the segregation unit where staff are carefully chosen for their experience and mental health awareness. However, there remains a shortfall of six tutors in the education department, and the key worker scheme, while more embedded, is not yet working as consistently as intended.
Healthcare
Healthcare services, provided by Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, are generally comparable to community standards, with significant improvements noted since the previous year due to additional funding and development plans. A new pharmacy has opened, and a monthly ultrasound clinic is now established. Despite these positives, the healthcare accommodation remains too small for the prison population, and extended stays in segregation for prisoners awaiting mental health transfers continue to be a deep concern. There is a clear mental health treatment strategy and a new drug recovery wing showing encouraging results.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime at Lowdham Grange is built on a positive ethos, with a notable amendment in the Social Responsibility Unit (SRU) towards positive reinforcement rather than coercion. The SRU now offers an enhanced regime with art courses, gym sessions, and other community activities, supported by full-time forensic psychologists. The Community Reward Incentive Scheme (CRIS) has helped reduce violence and increased attendance at purposeful activities to over 60%. While the regime aims to create a safe and stable environment, the report notes challenges with body-worn camera usage and slow progress in improving education.
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 (including appeals) | 21 | 18 | |
| Discrimination (race, religion, disability, gender) | 10 | 12 | |
| Drugs (testing, treatment, dealing) | 4 | 6 | |
| Education (including library) | 0 | 2 | |
| Family and relationships (including visits, child contact) | 23 | 21 | |
| Food | 6 | 9 | |
| Healthcare (including mental health) | 28 | 32 | |
| IEP and Incentives | 54 | 61 | |
| Money and valuables (including private cash, earnings) | 17 | 23 | |
| Other | 15 | 18 | |
| Property (including lost/damaged, postage) | 77 | 94 | |
| Purposeful activity (work, gym, classes) | 12 | 17 | |
| Safety (bullying, violence, self-harm) | 10 | 10 | — |
| Segregation (including time on unit) | 17 | 14 | |
| Sentence management (progression, IPP, life, release) | 35 | 41 | |
| Staff (officers, managers) | 29 | 33 | |
| Total applications | 403 | 471 |
Recommendations (7)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 2
Governor / Director: 3
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
continue to work with colleagues in other government departments to ensure that appropriate facilities are available for those prisoners with mental health issues, in order to prevent the need for prisons to hold them in segregation for extended periods
Ministry of Justice
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
prioritise the review of those prisoners serving IPP sentences, in order to facilitate their safe release.
Ministry of Justice
Resettlement
Recommendation 3
Repeated
give renewed emphasis to the work of storage and retrieval of prisoners’ property when they are moved between prisons
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 4
clarify, as a matter of urgency, the arrangements for the future of the contract for running this prison, given that Serco’s contract has only just over two years to run.
HMPPS
Other
Recommendation 5
Repeated
continue to work on the systematic storage and retrieval of prisoners’ property
Governor / Director
Other
Recommendation 6
ensure that more staff use body-worn cameras regularly
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 7
Repeated
continue to give priority to improving the standard of education and training on offer to prisoners.
Governor / Director
Education
Other IMB Reports for Lowdham Grange
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
3 Mar 2025
Unannounced
8 Jan 2024
IRP
15 May 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 2
Respect: 2
Activity: 1
Release: 2
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.