Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 30
30
Deferred
Paragraph: 166
Require MoJ, HMPPS, NHSE/I to report progress on PPO recommendations for female deaths.
Recommendation
The circumstances surrounding the deaths of Baby A and Baby B identified serious failings in the care and management of Ms A and Ms B, and some serious errors in judgement, as described in the subsequent reports by the Prison and Probation Ombudsman (PPO). The findings of both reports are serious, and urgent action by the MoJ, HMPPS, NHSE/I and other listed parties must be taken. The MoJ, HMPPS Women in Prison 79 and NHSE/I should set out the progress they are making against each recommendation in both reports from the PPO, and how lessons learned are being applied across the female estate.
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation but did not provide an update on the PPO reports regarding Baby A and Baby B deaths or how lessons learned are being applied. Instead, it outlined commitments to transform the Prisoner Education Service, recruit Neurodiversity Support Managers (5 roles offered, others recruiting), develop personal learning plans, and work towards allowing prisoners to undertake apprenticeships with new regulations by early October.
Paragraph Reference:
166
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
We accept this recommendation. As set out in the Prisons Strategy White Paper (PSWP), we are committed to delivering a transformed Prisoner Education Service for all prison, including investing in a digital and data platform needed to develop personal learning plans for prisoners. We will be recruiting Education, Work and Skills Specialists in all prisons to develop their curriculum and Neurodiversity Support Managers to better meet the individual learning needs of prisoners. Of the 12 Women’s Prisons recruiting Neurodiversity Support Managers, 5 have already offered the role to successful candidates and the rest are currently going through the recruitment process. We are also developing personal learning plans that will ensure women have a tailored plan that will help them develop the knowledge and skills they need to get employment on release. We are also working to do all we can to get prisoners ready for employment. This includes improving employability skills and adapting the estate and regime to increase opportunities for work-based training within prisons and on Release on Temporary Licence. For example, we are establishing the Employability Innovation Fund, which will provide funding for prison governors, including those in women’s prisons, to enable them to work with more employers and training providers to repurpose workshops, deliver sector specific skills training to meet the changing needs of the economy and smooth the path from prison to employment. MoJ and the Department for Education (DfE) are working together to bring forward regulations that will change the law to allow prisoners to undertake apprenticeships. The new regulations should come into force in early October. Although apprenticeships will be initially targeted at prisoners eligible for release on temporary licence (ROTL) in the open estate, the regulations have been drafted to enable in-prison apprenticeships and MoJ will explore the feasibility of this to a longer timescale. We are currently working with East Sutton Park (one of the two female open prisons) to ensure they are linked up with employers so that female prisoners are included in the programme at an early stage. We have also engaged with Askham Grange, but they have said that they would prefer to join the programme later on. For more details on employment, see response to recommendation 32.