Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Yasmin Adams

Ref: 2024-0330 Date: 20 Jun 2024 Coroner: Peter Nieto Area: Derby and Derbyshire Responses identified: 1 / 1 View PDF

Prison ACCT observations allowed overly long gaps, and fixed shower rails presented ligature risks. Staff lacked training on personality disorder/learning disability, and vulnerable prisoners were held in unsuitable cells.

Date 20 Jun 2024

56-day deadline 15 Aug 2024 est.

Responses identified 1 of 1

State Custody related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

View full coroner's concerns

1. Immediately prior to Yasmin’s death there had been a gap of twenty-nine minutes in her ACCT observations and at the time she was subject to four checks per hour. The relevant guidance for ACCT observation checks understandably states that the checks should not take place at set time to lessen the chances of a prisoner being able to predict when observations will occur, but the guidance does not advise avoiding overly long gaps between observation (e.g. twenty-nine minutes as in Yasmin’s case).

2. The inquest heard that HMP Foston Hall no longer has fixed shower rails in prisoner’s cell bathroom areas. It could not be confirmed to the court that other prisons across the prion estate do not have fixed shower rails in prisoner’s cell bathroom areas, or other shower areas where prisoners may be out of view of staff. Although potential ligature points are multiple within prisons, and cannot totally be eliminated, fixed shower rails present particular and clear risk of use as ligature points.

3. There was lack of clarity concerning what training and awareness prison staff receive on personality disorder. Yasmin was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder which could make her behaviour impulsive, and unpredictable. She had also been diagnosed with learning disability in the community which was relevant to her understanding and communication with her. I have been provided with the training course slides for Introduction to Mental Health Awareness, produced by HMPPS Learning and Development in conjunction with the National Psychology Service. I am informed that this course is delivered to prison officer staff generally. There is nothing on the slides to indicate that the course covers personality disorder or learning disability.

4. Yasmin was subject to cellular confinement on a residential prison wing. ‘Normal’ or ‘standard’ cells may not be best for cellular confinement, particularly for a prisoner placed on an ACCT and therefore deemed at risk and vulnerable, due to cell environment and ligature points and less ability to check and observe by prison staff. It is unclear whether appropriate cells are now used for placement of prisoners subject to ACCTS who are also subject to cellular confinement, across the prison estate.

Responses

1 respondent

HM Prison and Probation Service Central Government

12 Aug 2024 PDF

Noted

HMPPS acknowledges concerns about ACCT observations, shower rails, personality disorder training, and cellular confinement, explaining existing policies and planned improvements without committing to specific new actions. (AI summary)

View full response

Dear Mr Nieto,

Thank you for your Regulation 28 report of 20 June 2024, addressed to the Secretary of State for Justice. I am responding on behalf of His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) as Director General of Operations.

I know that you will share a copy of this response with Ms Adam’s family, and I would first like to express my condolences for their loss. Every death in custody is a tragedy and the safety of those in our care is my absolute priority.

You have expressed concerns regarding the guidance for completing Assessment, Care in Custody, Teamwork (ACCT) observations, the availability of fixed shower rails within the prison estate, personality disorder training and awareness available to staff, and the use of cellular confinement for prisoners who are supported through ACCT.

In April 2021, as part of a wider organisational change, HMP Foston Hall implemented ACCT version 6. The new version of the ACCT document was developed following a review of the previous version, and is designed to encourage a person-centred and multidisciplinary case management approach. In addition to the introduction of the new document, guidance documents that focus on various aspects including the ongoing record were produced to assist staff in conducting their duties. The ongoing record guidance clearly explains that observations should not be predictable but should be completed within a reasonable time frame to ensure there are not long gaps between checks and provides examples of such.

A ligature-resistant (LR) cell is one from which as many ligature points as possible have been removed, through the design and installation of furniture and fittings. This includes the door and window, electrical, heating and sanitary fittings, and other features such as shower curtain rails. Our long-term aim is to ensure that LR cells are available as an option for staff managing prisoners in crisis, and that they retain those features in full working order and do not deviate from the standard over time. All new prisons and major additions, such as new wings, are usually

built without ligature points in cells. For older prisons, HMPPS has begun a programme of work to convert a number of cells to the same standard.

Introduction to Mental Health Awareness training is included in the prison officer foundation course, which is designed to focus on key elements of the role to assist learners in the early stages of their career. Whilst the course does not directly reference personality disorder and learning disabilities, it does provide staff with effective communication techniques that can be used to interact with prisoners with various mental health conditions. Additionally, the training also provides guidance on how to refer prisoners to other agencies to ensure that the prisoner has holistic and appropriate support.

Cellular confinement is essentially the same process as segregation, except that it does not involve moving the prisoner to a dedicated segregation area. It does not of itself require a specialist cell, since not all prisoners undergoing cellular confinement will be at risk of self-harm. If that risk exists and it includes an increased risk of ligaturing, the prisoner can be moved to an LR cell where one is available. An alternative is a move to the segregation area, however this must be the exception for prisoners being supported through ACCT; and as segregation units are not required to have any LR accommodation, this may not be suitable.

Thank you again for bringing your concerns to my attention. I trust that this response provides assurance that action is being taken to address this matter.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 14 November 2016 I commenced an investigation into the death of Yasmin Louise ADAMS aged 25. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 19 April 2024. The inquest was an Article 2 inquest.

The jury made the following findings: -

Although not found to be contributory to Yasmin's death the jury recorded the following omissions: -

During Yasmin's second prison term the majority of prison staff were not aware of her mental health and learning disability diagnoses but should have been informed of these by prison healthcare.

There should have been consideration for Yasmin's care to be managed as an enhanced or complex case under the ACCT arrangements.

The duty governor should have considered whether to terminate cellular confinement having been updated about Yasmin on 12 November 2016.

Healthcare should have been informed of and attended all post self-harm incidents.

There should have been documented consideration for involvement of Yasmin's family in the ACCT process.

All prison staff should have been provided with basic mental health awareness training.

Basic first aid training to prison staff should have included instruction in CPR.

Assessment of risk for prisoners who self-harmed should have included a clear documented environmental risk assessment of cells. CONTROLLED

There should have been clarity as to the availability of safer anti-tear clothing at the prison.

The jury returned the following conclusion: -

Misadventure. Contributed to by: - Prison mental health care were not always invited to Yasmin's ACCT reviews during Yasmin's second prison term, did not attend any ACCT reviews, and only contributed to two reviews out of sixty-four by telephone consultation. This omission possibly contributed because healthcare could have provided a fuller picture of Yasmin's current mental health state, which may have informed the decision-making process.

On 11 November 2016, Yasmin was placed on cellular confinement in a cell with a fixed shower rail despite it being known that fixed shower rails were generally a ligature risk of self-harming and suicidal prisoners, particularly in the context of the bathroom areas being out of sight during prison staff observation checks,

This omission probably contributed

.

There should not have been a gap of 29 minutes in observations between 15:10 and 15:39 on 12 November. This omission possibly contributed because it provided Yasmin a greater opportunity to ligature, and not be discovered and not receive medical attention sooner.

Circumstances of the death

Yasmin had learning difficulties and behavioural problems from a young age. As an adult she was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder. After the death of her grandmother in April 2015, her mental health declined, which resulted in multiple episodes of self-harm, in which she became known to police and the mental health team.

Yasmin's first prison sentence at HMP Foston Hall commenced on 7 April 2016 after being found with a bladed article in a public place. Yasmin was placed on an ACCT after initial assessment. During her second screening, she was found to have superficial self-harm scratches and expressing a wish to die. During her 1st prison sentence, she continued to struggle with her mental health.

Yasmin's second prison sentence at HMP Foston Hall commenced on 29 August 2016 due to carrying a bladed article in a public place. On the initial screening, she was placed on an ACCT and referred to primary mental health care during her prison sentence. Self-harm incidents were frequent due to Yasmin hearing voices telling her to self-harm and telling her to kill herself.

Yasmin self-harmed frequently in her cell.

Yasmin was referred to a psychiatrist for an initial assessment, which resulted in a gatekeeping assessment for a secure mental health placement. However, she did not meet the criteria.

Yasmin remained on observations during her second prison sentence, which averaged at 4 times per hour. She was subjected to multiple sanctions under the adjudication scheme for noncompliance. Yasmin was placed on cellular confinement on 11 November 2016 after an adjudication for refusing to return to her cell.

Yasmin ligatured twice within a short period of time on the morning of 12 November 2016. She appeared unsettled after the removal of her television and table from her cell. Yasmin was repeatedly pressing the call bell in her cell. Later in the day, she was found suspended and unconscious . Yasmin was cut down and prison staff commenced CPR until paramedics arrived. Yasmin was transported to hospital where she CONTROLLED passed away the next day on 13 November 2016.

Copies sent to

Practice Plus GroupBirmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust

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Report details

Reference: 2024-0330
Date of report: 20 June 2024
Coroner: Peter Nieto
Coroner area: Derby and Derbyshire

Responses identified

Responses identified 1 of 1

All listed responses identified

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 15 Aug 2024 (estimated).

Sent to

Ministry of Justice

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk under OGL.