Prison
Cat C, YOI
Key Concerns Identified
Positive Findings
Moorland
IMB Annual Report 2024 · Published 31 July 2024
HMP/YOI Moorland is a Category C training and resettlement prison facing challenges including a substantial increase in self-harm incidents and prisoner assaults on staff. Overcrowding has led to dignity concerns with single cells being doubled, and the regime remains restrictive for many, despite efforts to expand activities. The Board continues to highlight issues with purposeful activity, IPP progression, and the need for consistency in monitoring and educational offerings.
Positive Findings
The Board observed improvements in ACCT documentation quality and consistency, and noted the successful use of in-cell laptops to reduce self-harm. Prisoner-on-prisoner assaults decreased, possibly due to increased mediation, while staff training packages were introduced to improve relations with younger prisoners. The prison maintained a low level of use of force, improved DIRF processes, and enhanced the complaints system with positive impacts on staff responses. Healthcare provision for mental health and learning disabilities was commended, with notable efforts to ensure safe discharges. Regime expansion included more gym sessions and activities, positively received by prisoners, and the library and family contact initiatives like Storybook Dads continued successfully.
Key Concerns
Safety
The number of self-harm incidents increased substantially, despite the adoption of measures to support prisoners who self-harm.
Safety
There was a corresponding increase in the number of ACCTs opened and re-opened.
Safety
The number of prisoner assaults on staff rose by 11 (39%).
Overcrowding
Repeated
The increasing use of small single cells as doubles due to pressure of numbers raises concerns about decency, dignity and humanity.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The availability of work has not kept pace with the prison population, and many prisoners who would like to work full-time are restricted to half-time.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
The early release scheme increased pressure on the OMU, causing temporary interruption of work with IPP prisoners who continue to be a concern.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Prisoners continue to press for a less restrictive regime, with more time out of cell, which can be as little as two hours per day for those who do not access work or education.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The range of recognised education and training qualifications needs to be expanded to enhance prospects of successful rehabilitation and resettlement.
Staffing
Particular concerns were raised about staff and prisoner relations in one house block.
Other
Repeated
Lost property, both within and between establishments, continues to be a cause of great frustration for all concerned.
Mental Health
Repeated
The promised statutory limit of 28 days for transfers to specialist psychiatric units has still not been brought before Parliament.
Other
There is a need for greater consistency in the arrangements for meetings to monitor the use of force, equalities and health.
Mental Health
An average wait of five to six months for trauma-informed mental health interventions is a frustrating time when prisoners' mental health can deteriorate.
Healthcare
Limited use of intermediate care unit beds due to lack of referrals and design limitations.
Board Commentary
Staffing
Staffing levels improved, with recruitment meeting needs and projections for full staffing by end of 2023. However, staff availability remained the biggest factor affecting regime provision. A vacancy for a probation officer exists, with an embargo on appointments, leading prison officers to assist with transactional tasks. Training in control and restraint reached 91.7%, and a bespoke support package was introduced for staff to better understand younger prisoners' behaviour.
Healthcare
Overall healthcare quality is generally equivalent to community care, with positive feedback from a CQC inspection. However, persistent issues include a significant number of missed appointments and failure to deliver prisoners for healthcare. Mental health services are responsive to referrals, with a stable caseload, but average waiting times of five to six months for trauma-informed interventions can lead to deterioration. The intermediate care unit suffered from limited referrals and design limitations, though a re-launch is planned to expand its remit.
Regime & Daily Life
The regime is constrained by staff availability, leading to a minimum of two hours out of cell daily for some, resulting in up to 22 hours in cell, especially at weekends. Prisoners consistently request more social time out of cells, a need largely unmet outside of ISFLUs. While efforts have been made to expand gym sessions and introduce 'Tier 2' enrichment activities for a limited number of prisoners, overcrowding has also led to single cells being used as doubles, raising concerns about decency.
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 | |
| Canteen, private cash and wages | 17 | 10 | |
| Complaints | 0 | 13 | |
| Discipline | 12 | 14 | |
| Discrimination | 7 | 4 | |
| Education, training and employment | 24 | 14 | |
| Family, visits and mail | 32 | 34 | |
| Food | 6 | 9 | |
| Healthcare | 45 | 53 | |
| IPP | 22 | 16 | |
| Legal | 10 | 15 | |
| Lost property | 64 | 59 | |
| Other | 14 | 10 | |
| Religion | 3 | 0 | |
| Security | 9 | 10 | |
| Sentence calculation and release | 33 | 33 | — |
| Staff/prisoner relationships | 33 | 47 | |
| Transfers | 6 | 0 |
Recommendations (12)
Ministry of Justice: 4
HMPPS: 4
Governor / Director: 4
8 repeated
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Predict when the statutory limit of 28 days for transfers of prisoners needing secure psychiatric care will be passed into law.
Ministry of Justice
mental_health
Response
The Draft Mental Health Bill, published in June 2022, has recently been subject to pre-legislative scrutiny…At this point, I am not able to indicate when the statutory transfer time limit (28 days) to a mental health hospital will come into effect…
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Increased staffing to ensure key work is delivered consistently and to a high standard for all prisoners.
HMPPS
staffing
Response
The situation has now improved, with recruitment meeting the needs of HMP/YOI Moorland… On current projections, the establishments should be fully staffed with officers and OSGs (operational support grades) by the end of 2023.
Recommendation 1
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Further action to improve prisoners’ confidence in the systems for complaints and DIRFs.
Governor / Director
complaints
Response
During the year, DIRF training was delivered in conjunction with the Zahid Mubarek Trust and new paperwork was introduced.
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Explain how the IPP action plan will address the issue of access to programmes recommended by the Parole Board but not available to the prisoner.
Ministry of Justice
resettlement
Response
Whilst the Parole Board may recommend certain programmes, such as Horizon, not all IPP prisoners are eligible or suitable for such programmes. Nationally, there are relatively few IPPs awaiting programmes and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) finds that a range of bespoke intervention activity, mental health support, offender personality disorder services and other rehabilitative work being [sic] more suitable.
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. unaddressed
Ensure the situation regarding loss or delay of prisoners’ property is improved by the new national framework.
HMPPS
other
Response
HMPPS will monitor the impact of the new property-related framework going forward and will continue to look at what further improvements can be made. Due to the population pressures, the Governor has reported an increase in transfers both in and out, which has contributed to an increase in reception processes and the rise in property-related issues.
Recommendation 2
Repeated
Prev. addressed
Review how the incentives system might be adapted so that prisoners perceive it as less punitive and more motivating.
Governor / Director
regime
Response
A new comprehensive policy was under development during the reporting year and has been published for 2024/2025, with the stated intention of applying the policy fairly and consistently in a procedurally just way.
Recommendation 7
Repeated
How does the Minister plan to reduce prison overcrowding, given the repeated increases in operating capacity necessitating the conversion of single cells to doubles and the impact on dignity and wellbeing?
Ministry of Justice
overcrowding
Recommendation 8
Repeated
Will the Government reconsider its refusal to implement the recommendations of the House of Commons Justice Committee to enable a resentencing exercise in relation to all IPP sentenced individuals?
Ministry of Justice
resettlement
Recommendation 9
Can the training available to prison officers be reviewed to develop more specialised skills for the wide variety of different needs represented in the prison population?
HMPPS
staffing
Recommendation 10
Can the commissioning of education and training be revised to enable prisoners to acquire a greater range of recognised qualifications to enhance their prospects of successful rehabilitation and resettlement?
HMPPS
education
Recommendation 11
Can there be greater consistency in the arrangements for meetings to monitor the use of force and other important aspects of prison life, such as equalities and health?
Governor / Director
other
Recommendation 12
Can further progress be made towards a less restrictive regime, enabling more time out of cell, especially for those prisoners who do not go to work or education and for all prisoners at weekends?
Governor / Director
regime
Other IMB Reports for Moorland
HMIP Inspections
Recent inspections by HM Inspectorate of Prisons for this establishment.
13 Mar 2023
Unannounced
Safety: 3
Respect: 3
Activity: 3
Release: 3
PPO Fatal Incidents
Prisons and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations for this establishment.