Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 175
175
Deferred
Mandate consistent and comprehensive training for all frontline staff on responding to medical emergencies.
Recommendation
HMPPS must mandate that all frontline staff receive consistent, up-to- date and comprehensive training in responding to medical emergencies. The current inconsistency in staff preparedness is unacceptable. All staff should be required to complete training on how to identify and respond to drug overdoses and manage seizures. This training should be a compulsory part of induction and be refreshed annually. Given the urgency of the issue, we recommend this training be set up within the next six months. (Recommendation, Paragraph 62) 62
Government Response Summary
The government's response discusses strengthening personnel vetting processes, including re-vetting staff every three to five years and improving information sharing, rather than addressing the recommendation for consistent medical emergency training for frontline staff.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
Robust personnel vetting to protect the integrity of the prison system is crucial, and so HMPPS is learning from reviews of police vetting and, where possible, building this into our processes. HMPPS has agreed to implement several steps to strengthen vetting, with target implementation dates of April to June 2026. These changes will include re-vetting every three to five years depending on clearance level, re-vetting for individuals moving to high-risk or high-profile roles, and risk-based re-vetting where intelligence suggests that there is an increased risk. Where appropriate and where funding allows, we will align our approach with other comparable agencies. To support this, we are pursuing access to the Police National Database for consideration in vetting checks, seeking legislative change to increase the level of criminal records disclosure permitted for our highest risk roles, and expanding our information-sharing agreements which are currently in place with Border Force and Immigration Enforcement, to include the police and other comparable agencies. While we do not accept the need for a lifelong vetting model as the minimum operational standard, we partially accept the recommendation and remain committed to strengthening vetting arrangements, with a strong emphasis on high-risk roles where the opportunity to cause harm is the greatest. Health staff (including those from RECONNECT) face the same level of personnel vetting requirements. HMPPS and NHSE will work in partnership to deliver this recommendation across prison healthcare teams.