Prison
Cat B
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Cardiff IMB
IMB Annual Report 2025 · Published 30 January 2026
Overall, HMP Cardiff has seen positive developments in safety, with significant reductions in self-harm and use of force incidents, and successful digital platform implementation. However, the prison continues to grapple with severe staffing shortages, particularly in healthcare, and the physical estate remains in poor condition, affecting prisoners with mobility issues and access to basic amenities. Concerns persist regarding delays in mental health transfers, lack of secure medication storage, and the underperformance of the key worker scheme.
Positive Findings
The Board welcomes the significant 50% reduction in self-harm incidents (to 295) and the 25% decrease in use of force incidents (to 641), along with a 23% reduction in violence. They commend the progress in cell refurbishment, including the introduction of a 'reduced mobility cell'. The successful implementation of the Launchpad digital platform and high prisoner satisfaction are noted. Positive developments in healthcare include the completion of the Health and Social Care Needs Analysis and new pragmatic GP arrangements for medication reviews. The decision to retain the 'Here 2 Help' peer programme, strong performance in learning and skills, and the opening of a wellbeing centre are also highlighted.
Key Concerns
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The Board reiterates its concern, expressed last year, about out-of-area prisoners arriving at HMP Cardiff late, which delays the reception process.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The Board reiterates the concerns from previous reports about the prison's conditions, including the lack of out-of-cell space for eating; ongoing problems with heating and hot water; and inadequate accessibility for prisoners with mobility problems.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The Board reiterates that the prison needs to prioritise the key worker scheme.
Staffing
Staffing has continued to be a major problem, especially the lack of availability of nurses.
Staffing
Background vetting of staff was still a problem in relation to recruitment and induction of staff.
Healthcare
Nursing staff were not profiled to attend reception until the afternoon, which had a direct impact on incoming prisoners and other members of staff.
Mental Health
The Board is concerned about the waiting lists for prisoners to access mental health services and, specifically, the reduction from seven to six psychiatric sessions per week towards the end of the reporting period.
Mental Health
The Board is still concerned about the time it takes for some prisoners to be transferred to a suitable mental health placement.
Mental Health
Mental health staffing levels were low compared to other similar prisons, as noted in the Health and Social Care Needs Assessment.
Estate/Conditions
The poor condition of the estate in some areas and the ongoing closure of buildings marked for demolition has affected the provision of learning and skills.
Equality/Diversity
Repeated
The Board expresses its concern that HMP Cardiff is generally unsuitable for prisoners with a disability and/or mobility problems.
Complaints/Property
Complaints about lost prisoner property and the way prisoner property is dealt with have increased slightly, compared to the previous reporting period.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing remains a major challenge, particularly the availability of nurses, with background checks continuing to be a problem for recruitment. A specific concern was the late profiling of nursing staff for reception duties, impacting new arrivals. While a change in senior leadership was welcomed, the IMB itself saw a significant reduction in members. The key worker scheme, despite an increase in sessions, has low compliance, and efforts to develop a revised staffing profile to support it have been delayed until at least January 2026. The IMB noted a significant increase in homophobic comments directed at staff.
Healthcare
The IMB welcomes the completion of the Health and Social Care Needs Analysis and the positive, timely response from management. New GP arrangements have led to medication reviews and prescribing within 24 hours, reducing related applications. However, healthcare staffing, particularly for nurses, remains a major problem, exacerbated by recruitment delays due to background checks. Mental health provision faces concerns over waiting lists, a reduction from seven to six psychiatric sessions per week, and delays in transferring prisoners to suitable mental health placements. Staffing levels in mental health are noted as low compared to other similar prisons.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime is significantly impacted by the need for staff escorts for hospital appointments, affecting the daily structured routine. The lack of out-of-cell dining means prisoners eat next to shared toilets, raising dignity concerns. While the segregation unit generally operates without significant issues, there was an increase in applications regarding lost property during transfers to and from the unit. The successful implementation of the Launchpad digital platform has been well-managed, leading to high prisoner satisfaction and improved access to services.
Recommendations (10)
Ministry of Justice: 2
HMPPS: 1
NHS / Healthcare Provider: 3
Governor / Director: 4
4 repeated
Recommendation 1
Pa gamau fydd y Gweinidog yn eu cymryd ar unwaith i fynd i'r afael â'r oedi yn y broses archwilio, sy'n rhwystr sylweddol wrth recriwtio staff carchardai ac aelodau'r Bwrdd Monitro Annibynnol?
Ministry of Justice
Staffing
Recommendation 2
Pryd fydd y Gweinidog yn codi gyda'r Swyddfa Gartref yr angen i ddatrys statws hawl i weithio staff carchardai, fel y gallant barhau i gael eu cyflogi gan y Gwasanaeth Carchardai?
Ministry of Justice
Staffing
Recommendation 3
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Beth yw'r amserlen ar gyfer mynd i'r afael â chyflwr gwael rhannau o ystâd y carchar, cau parhaus yr adeiladau sydd wedi'u marcio ar gyfer eu dymchwel, a phroblemau parhaus gyda seilwaith sylfaenol fel gwresogi, dŵr poeth a ffonau?
HMPPS
Estate
Recommendation 4
Sut gall Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Caerdydd a'r Fro weithio gyda Charchar Caerdydd a'r adran gofal iechyd i liniaru'r effaith y mae anfon carcharorion allan i'r ysbyty yn ei chael ar staffio’r carchar a'r drefn, o ystyried yr angen cynyddol am hebryngwyr?
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Healthcare
Recommendation 5
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Sut bydd y Bwrdd Iechyd yn sicrhau bod archwiliadau presgripsiynu yng Ngharchar Caerdydd yn cael eu datrys yn gyflym, o ystyried bod trefniant rhannu swydd y fferyllwyr yn atal archwiliadau yn y carchar?
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Healthcare
Recommendation 6
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Pa gamau fydd y Bwrdd Iechyd yn eu cymryd i fynd i'r afael â'r oedi cyn i garcharorion gael gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl, gan gynnwys sesiynau seiciatrig, sy'n is o'u cymharu â chyfleusterau eraill, fel y nodwyd yn yr Asesiad o Anghenion Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol?
NHS / Healthcare Provider
Mental_Health
Recommendation 7
Sut bydd y carchar yn sicrhau bod lle storio y gellir ei gloi yn cael ei ddarparu i garcharorion sydd â meddyginiaeth ‘yn eu meddiant’ i helpu i leihau’r risg y bydd carcharorion eraill yn cael gafael ar feddyginiaeth heb ei bresgripsiynu?
Governor / Director
Safety
Recommendation 8
Sut bydd y carchar yn gweithio gyda chyngor Caerdydd i sefydlu proses gofal cymdeithasol ffurfiol a chadarn, o ystyried nad oes un yn bodoli, fel yr amlygwyd yn yr Asesiad o Anghenion Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol?
Governor / Director
Healthcare
Recommendation 9
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Sut bydd y trafodaethau hyn yn cael eu datrys ddechrau 2026 i gefnogi system gweithwyr allweddol gwell yng Ngharchar Caerdydd.
Governor / Director
Regime
Recommendation 10
Sut mae'r carchar yn bwriadu gwneud ymweliadau'n fwy cynhwysol i garcharorion ac ymwelwyr niwrowahanol?
Governor / Director
Equality