Prison
Cat women's YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Low Newton
IMB Annual Report 2020 · Published 8 July 2020
HMP/YOI Low Newton provides a generally safe and humane environment with high staff morale and respectful interactions. Healthcare provision is good for most, but the Board highlights long-standing concerns regarding the detention of mentally ill women due to a lack of community places and delays in hospital transfers. Deteriorating prison infrastructure, particularly leaky roofs, significantly impedes education and work opportunities. Resettlement efforts are hampered by a lack of suitable accommodation for a notable proportion of releases. The Board also raised concerns about drug misuse (Buscopan) and the need for more funding for key support services.
Positive Findings
The prison provides a safe environment, kept clean and tidy, with high staffing levels and respectful officers. Residents are treated fairly and humanely, with good staff interactions. Healthcare needs are generally met well, with quick appointments comparing favourably to other local prisons. A wide range of interventions are provided to assist in resettlement. Officers are courteous and compassionate at reception, and there were no deaths in custody. The use of guided holds is a positive feature, and staff in the care and separation unit build good rapport with residents. Staff-resident relationships are generally good, contributing to a positive atmosphere. The drug and alcohol recovery team is proactive, and an excellent art workshop is operated by Junction 42. Education staff coped remarkably well despite infrastructure challenges, with 100% of teaching observations graded good or better. NEPACS provides valuable support for families visiting.
Key Concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
The Board has had, for a number of years, concerns regarding the number of prisoners who are suffering from mental health issues – in some cases, severe issues.
Mental Health
Repeated
As noted in previous reports, it appears that some women are being detained owing to the lack of places of safety in the community.
Estate/Conditions
The deteriorating state of the prison roofs is of great concern to the Board. A number of classrooms and workshop areas are out of action. This causes a reduction in education and work opportunities for the women. There are also health and safety issues when buckets and other containers have to be put out to catch rainwater.
Resettlement/Release
The prison would benefit from more funding to provide extra domestic violence support, trauma counselling, supported accommodation and social work, both in the prison and on release.
Substance Misuse
Repeated
There is an issue with the misuse of Buscopan in the prison, which has been going on for some years.
Resettlement/Release
Approximately 15–20% of the women are released without suitable and safe accommodation, particularly those who are from the Cumbria area.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels are reported as high, and prison officers treat residents with respect. However, the formal key worker role, part of the Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) model, is absent as it has not yet been introduced into the female prison estate. Despite this, staff maintain good working relationships and are supportive of residents. The Board has raised a question about whether the prison is at full complement for mentors and red bands, suggesting potential shortages in these areas.
Healthcare
Residents' health needs are generally met well, with quick access to GP and dental appointments, comparing favourably to other prisons. Full medical screening is undertaken on arrival. However, the Board has significant concerns regarding prisoners with severe mental health issues being detained in the prison due to a lack of community-based places of safety. While mental healthcare provision is appropriate for most, the limited availability of mental health beds in outside hospitals causes delays in transfers, which is detrimental to residents. G4S held the health service contract during the reporting period, transitioning to Spectrum CIC from April 2020.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime is significantly impacted by the deteriorating state of the prison roofs, leading to classrooms and workshops being out of action and reducing education and work opportunities. Despite this, there are sufficient purposeful activity spaces for all residents to engage in at least part-time employment, often in a blended learning approach. The gym offers both employment and recreational opportunities, with qualifications available. Residents have expressed a desire for more manual subjects like bricklaying, but space constraints prevent new workshops. Daily life is also affected by issues such as the misuse of Buscopan.
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 | 1 | — | |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 1 | — | |
| Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 5 | — | |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 1 | — | |
| Food and kitchens | 3 | — | |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 11 | — | |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 6 | — | |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 3 | — | |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 2 | — | |
| Property within this establishment | 4 | — | |
| Sentence management, including home detention curfew, ROTL, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 1 | — | |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 3 | — | |
| Total number of applications | 42 | — | |
| Transfers | 1 | — |
Recommendations (8)
Other: 1
HMPPS: 3
Governor / Director: 4
1 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
The Board has had, for a number of years, concerns regarding the number of prisoners who are suffering from mental health issues – in some cases, severe issues. As noted in previous reports, it appears that some women are being detained owing to the lack of places of safety in the community. The healthcare unit diligently assesses prisoners and their mental health with a view to referral, where appropriate, to hospital at the earliest opportunity, but this can still take some time and is constrained by the difficulty of arranging a secure hospital bed.
Other
(minister)
Mental Health
Recommendation 2
The deteriorating state of the prison roofs is of great concern to the Board. A number of classrooms and workshop areas are out of action. This causes a reduction in education and work opportunities for the women. There are also health and safety issues when buckets and other containers have to be put out to catch rainwater.
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 3
The Board wonders if, despite the previous assessment, there is any possibility of part of the prison being remodelled to allow for the residents to undertake bricklaying or DIY training courses.
HMPPS
Education
Recommendation 4
The prison would benefit from more funding to provide extra domestic violence support, trauma counselling, supported accommodation and social work, both in the prison and on release.
HMPPS
Resettlement
Recommendation 5
How does the Governor see the establishment progressing in the next three to five years?
Governor / Director
Other
Recommendation 6
Can the equality and diversity policy be displayed on all wings and also in areas where there is a high volume of resident activity?
Governor / Director
Equality
Recommendation 7
Is there a case for more Listeners, as the prison currently has five and there are eight wings? Is the prison up to complement with mentors and red bands?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 8
Is there any equipment that will identify Buscopan coming into the prison?
Governor / Director
Substance Misuse
Other IMB Reports for Low Newton
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.