Prison
Cat YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Foston Hall
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 16 April 2026
HMP/YOI Foston Hall is a women’s prison and young offender institution. Its capacity is 3241. The Board has noted a rise in self-harm incidents, violence, and use of force.
Positive Findings
The Board has seen a renewed focus on improving the experience and safety of newly arrived prisoners. Additional staffing in the first night centre by early days in custody (EDiC) managers appears to have led to improved information sharing about the profile and history of new prisoners. The IMB has regularly observed food being prepared in the kitchens and noted that it looked appetising, was well presented and tasted good when sampled. The Board commends Foston Hall for the professionalism, patience and compassion with which prisoners are treated in the CSU.
Key Concerns
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The continuing rise in prisoners who are on short-fixed term recalls, and subject to short sentences has a significant limiting impact on rehabilitation and resettlement.
Mental Health
Repeated
It is still the case that prisoners with complex and severe mental health needs are frequently received, or remain too long, at HMP Foston Hall, rather than being accommodated and cared for in hospital or in the community in line with the ambitions of the female offender strategy.
Other
Repeated
There is still no evidence that the decision to identify pregnancy as a specific mitigating factor in sentencing decisions has had any impact on the number of pregnant prisoners passing through Foston Hall, including prisoners on short-term recall.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
There are increasing problems with the quality and decency of accommodation, including the longstanding inadequacy of the CSU and D wing and the ongoing health and safety and decency issues on F wing caused by water damage from leaking showers.
Mental Health
Repeated
There continues to be a lack of adequate mental health provision for prisoners experiencing less severe but still impactful conditions, including anxiety and depression.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
There are limitations to the operation of the Incentives Policy Framework and prisoners who do not receive visits or have anyone to send them money feel there is no gain in being in the enhanced level.
Board Commentary
Staffing
A significant number of new staff joined the establishment during the reporting year. It is evident from prisoner comments and IMB observations that staff are sometimes too busy to spend the time with prisoners that they feel is needed and that many prisoners want. Staff detailed for key work are frequently diverted to other duties.
Healthcare
The healthcare service at Foston Hall is commissioned from Practice Plus Group, a private provider of healthcare. The healthcare service appears to be well-managed locally and healthcare staff appear to work in a multidisciplinary way with prison colleagues. Accommodation for healthcare remains inadequate, in the Board’s view. Work to provide two additional treatment rooms has not yet started.
Recommendations (13)
Governor / Director: 13
5 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
What will the prison do to improve the problems with the operation of the prisoner application system to ensure they are all responded to and within an acceptable time frame?
Governor / Director
Complaints
Recommendation 2
Repeated
How will the prison ensure that prisoners are not delayed in accessing their property promptly?
Governor / Director
other
Recommendation 3
What steps will be put in place to ensure that every wing has an adequate supply of forms - for example, general application and complaints forms - available to prisoners?
Governor / Director
Complaints
Recommendation 4
Repeated
What will be done to improve the poor levels of key work taking place across the prison?
Governor / Director
other
Recommendation 5
There are limitations to the operation of the Incentives Policy Framework and prisoners who do not receive visits or have anyone to send them money feel there is no gain in being in the enhanced level. What will be done to ensure that all prisoners feel that the incentives policy has meaning for them?
Governor / Director
regime
Recommendation 6
What will be put in place to reverse the rise in incidents of self-harm?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 7
What will the prison do to reduce the rise in the number of prisoner-on-prisoner violent incidents?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 8
How will the prison address the rise in use of force incidents?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 9
Self-harm incidents have risen despite a multidisciplinary approach. What more can be done to support prisoners who harm themselves?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 10
Violence has increased. What planned actions does Foston Hall have to reverse this trend?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 11
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Prisoners continue to queue outside the medication dispensing hatch, whatever the weather, with no shelter. When will shelter be provided for them?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 12
When will the healthcare services team be provided with adequate accommodation?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 13
Repeated
When will the Access Service [a multidisciplinary team supporting prisoners with highly complex needs and behaviours] be staffed and operational?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Other IMB Reports for Foston Hall
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
13 Jan 2025
Unannounced
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.