HM Prison and Probabtion Service
Central Government
Action Planned
HMPPS piloted a revised version of ACCT and will roll out a new version nationally in early 2020, and two on-site first aid trainers will deliver first aid training to staff as part of the prison’s monthly training provision. (AI summary)
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Dear Mr Healy-Pratt,
Thank you for your Regulation 28 Report of 21 June 2019, following the inquest into the death of Ryan Trimmer at HMP Lewes on 26 April 2017. I am responding on behalf of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
I know that this response will be shared with the family of Mr Trimmer, and I would first like to express my condolences for their loss. The safety of those in our care is my absolute priority, and every death in custody is a tragedy.
You have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) case management process, and about first aid training for prison staff. I am grateful to you for bringing these matters to my attention and I will respond to each of your concerns in turn.
I note the findings of the jury with regard to the operation of the ACCT process in this case, and it is good to know that you heard evidence about the pilot of the revised version of ACCT. This took place in nine prisons and one immigration removal centre from February to June 2019. The feedback from the sites has been positive, and a formal evaluation of the pilot is currently being undertaken. The findings will inform the development of a new version of ACCT that we intend to begin to roll out nationally in early 2020. In support of this roll out there will be a clear communication strategy, and support mechanisms will be in place to help embed the revised process within each site. It is too early to give a firm date for the new process to be introduced at HMP Lewes, but we have noted your view that this should be a priority.
Your second concern is that whilst prison staff can often be first on scene at a medical emergency, not all have received training in first aid. The Governors of each prison are required to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of staff trained in first aid on duty, and at HMP Lewes at least two trained nurses and one trained member of prison staff are available at all times.
Two on-site first aid trainers will be delivering first aid training to staff as part of the prison’s monthly training provision, and a one-day refresher course will be introduced to ensure that training levels are maintained. Custodial Managers (the most senior uniformed grade of staff) and Officer Support Grades (staff that support the duties of Prison Officers) have been provided with this training first, in order to ensure that those covering the Orderly Officer role
(the person in charge of the operational running of the prison regime) and night duties are able to provide emergency first aid. The member of staff to whom you refer in your report is in this priority group, and will now receive refresher training.
At a national level, since 2016 all new prison officers have completed a mandatory level 3 qualification in Emergency First Aid at Work as part of their Prison Officer Entry Level Training. This includes the application of CPR and the use of a defibrillator. Whilst there is currently no national requirement for all prison staff to be trained in first aid, we are currently reviewing the provision of first aid in prison, and we expect this to result in revisions to first aid policy and training. We have also been working with the Awarding Body on the development of a custodial First Aid awareness course, focusing on key areas and situations that may arise in the prison environment.
Thank you again for bringing these matters of concern to my attention. I hope this response has provided assurance that they are being addressed.
Thank you for your Regulation 28 Report of 21 June 2019, following the inquest into the death of Ryan Trimmer at HMP Lewes on 26 April 2017. I am responding on behalf of Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
I know that this response will be shared with the family of Mr Trimmer, and I would first like to express my condolences for their loss. The safety of those in our care is my absolute priority, and every death in custody is a tragedy.
You have expressed concerns about the effectiveness of the Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork (ACCT) case management process, and about first aid training for prison staff. I am grateful to you for bringing these matters to my attention and I will respond to each of your concerns in turn.
I note the findings of the jury with regard to the operation of the ACCT process in this case, and it is good to know that you heard evidence about the pilot of the revised version of ACCT. This took place in nine prisons and one immigration removal centre from February to June 2019. The feedback from the sites has been positive, and a formal evaluation of the pilot is currently being undertaken. The findings will inform the development of a new version of ACCT that we intend to begin to roll out nationally in early 2020. In support of this roll out there will be a clear communication strategy, and support mechanisms will be in place to help embed the revised process within each site. It is too early to give a firm date for the new process to be introduced at HMP Lewes, but we have noted your view that this should be a priority.
Your second concern is that whilst prison staff can often be first on scene at a medical emergency, not all have received training in first aid. The Governors of each prison are required to ensure that there are sufficient numbers of staff trained in first aid on duty, and at HMP Lewes at least two trained nurses and one trained member of prison staff are available at all times.
Two on-site first aid trainers will be delivering first aid training to staff as part of the prison’s monthly training provision, and a one-day refresher course will be introduced to ensure that training levels are maintained. Custodial Managers (the most senior uniformed grade of staff) and Officer Support Grades (staff that support the duties of Prison Officers) have been provided with this training first, in order to ensure that those covering the Orderly Officer role
(the person in charge of the operational running of the prison regime) and night duties are able to provide emergency first aid. The member of staff to whom you refer in your report is in this priority group, and will now receive refresher training.
At a national level, since 2016 all new prison officers have completed a mandatory level 3 qualification in Emergency First Aid at Work as part of their Prison Officer Entry Level Training. This includes the application of CPR and the use of a defibrillator. Whilst there is currently no national requirement for all prison staff to be trained in first aid, we are currently reviewing the provision of first aid in prison, and we expect this to result in revisions to first aid policy and training. We have also been working with the Awarding Body on the development of a custodial First Aid awareness course, focusing on key areas and situations that may arise in the prison environment.
Thank you again for bringing these matters of concern to my attention. I hope this response has provided assurance that they are being addressed.