HM Prison and Probation Service
Central Government
Action Taken
In September 2021, HMP Cookham Wood issued a Notice to Staff reminding PE staff of PSI 58/2011 requirements and introduced daily roll books to record time spent in activities and healthcare requests. The logs provide for comments to be added and ‘guidance prompts’ are now in place which outline the importance of providing this information so that it is available to all staff. (AI summary)
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Dear Mrs Harding,
Thank you for your Regulation 28 report of 4 October 2021 addressed to HMP Cookham Wood following the inquest into the death of Caden Stewart on the 27 June 2019. I am responding as Director General of Prisons.
I know that you will share a copy of this response with Mr Stewart’s family, and I would first like to express my sincere condolences for their loss. Every death in custody is a tragedy and the safety of those in our care is my absolute priority.
You expressed concern following evidence heard at the inquest about Physical Education Instructors’ knowledge of PSI 58/2011 Physical Education (PE) for Prisoners and its requirements, and about the sharing of information between prison staff and healthcare staff regarding Caden feeling unwell. I am grateful to you for bringing your concerns to my attention.
In September 2021, following the inquest, a Notice to Staff was issued reminding PE staff of the need to understand the content and requirements of PSI 58/2011 and to ensure they maintain appropriate supervision of the gym at all times. The importance of this has also been reinforced during regular staff briefings.
To ensure improved and effective information sharing regarding a prisoner’s well-being, in September 2021 the Young People Services Team introduced daily roll books onto the residential areas which record the amount of time each young person spends in various activities. The logs provide for comments to be added and ‘guidance prompts’ are now in place which outline the importance of providing this information so that it is available to all staff. The guidance prompts also explain the type of information staff should record, including where a young person has made a request to see healthcare. A Notice to Staff detailing the use of the roll books was issued to ensure all staff are aware of the need to record information about a young person in custody.
When updating the roll books the time of the request to see healthcare and the time that they are seen is noted, and staff are expected to make follow up enquiries with the young person and healthcare to ensure that the young person has been seen, and to record any notable actions required following healthcare advice. This may include non-medical in- confidence information such as recommended observation levels, follow up health appointments or excusal from activity. This information will also be recorded on the young person’s NOMIS (the prison information system) case notes.
Thank you again for bringing your concerns to my attention, and I would again like to extend my sincere condolences to Mr Stewart’s family for their very sad loss. I trust that this response provides assurance that action is being taken to address the matters that you have raised.
Thank you for your Regulation 28 report of 4 October 2021 addressed to HMP Cookham Wood following the inquest into the death of Caden Stewart on the 27 June 2019. I am responding as Director General of Prisons.
I know that you will share a copy of this response with Mr Stewart’s family, and I would first like to express my sincere condolences for their loss. Every death in custody is a tragedy and the safety of those in our care is my absolute priority.
You expressed concern following evidence heard at the inquest about Physical Education Instructors’ knowledge of PSI 58/2011 Physical Education (PE) for Prisoners and its requirements, and about the sharing of information between prison staff and healthcare staff regarding Caden feeling unwell. I am grateful to you for bringing your concerns to my attention.
In September 2021, following the inquest, a Notice to Staff was issued reminding PE staff of the need to understand the content and requirements of PSI 58/2011 and to ensure they maintain appropriate supervision of the gym at all times. The importance of this has also been reinforced during regular staff briefings.
To ensure improved and effective information sharing regarding a prisoner’s well-being, in September 2021 the Young People Services Team introduced daily roll books onto the residential areas which record the amount of time each young person spends in various activities. The logs provide for comments to be added and ‘guidance prompts’ are now in place which outline the importance of providing this information so that it is available to all staff. The guidance prompts also explain the type of information staff should record, including where a young person has made a request to see healthcare. A Notice to Staff detailing the use of the roll books was issued to ensure all staff are aware of the need to record information about a young person in custody.
When updating the roll books the time of the request to see healthcare and the time that they are seen is noted, and staff are expected to make follow up enquiries with the young person and healthcare to ensure that the young person has been seen, and to record any notable actions required following healthcare advice. This may include non-medical in- confidence information such as recommended observation levels, follow up health appointments or excusal from activity. This information will also be recorded on the young person’s NOMIS (the prison information system) case notes.
Thank you again for bringing your concerns to my attention, and I would again like to extend my sincere condolences to Mr Stewart’s family for their very sad loss. I trust that this response provides assurance that action is being taken to address the matters that you have raised.