Source · IMB Annual Report

Foston Hall

Year: 2023 Published: 9 May 2024 Type: Prison · Cat YOI female Population: 284 Recommendations: 22 Key concerns Positive findings

HMP/YOI Foston Hall has shown positive developments in regime provision and some safety initiatives, yet it continues to grapple with persistently high self-harm rates and increased use of force. Staffing shortages have impacted key work and overall experience levels, while healthcare faces challenges with recruitment, missed appointments, and inadequate facilities. The Board highlights significant concerns regarding accommodation decency, delays in parole and mental health transfers, and a lack of analytical focus on protected characteristics, affecting fair treatment and access to services.

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year

Indicator	This year	Previous
Deaths in custody	1	—

Positive findings

The IMB observes Foston Hall's focus on prisoner safety, evidenced by new initiatives and decreasing self-harm rates. The Board welcomes significant progress in lifting regime restrictions, leading to a more humane environment with resumed exercise and activities. Healthcare shows improvements in hospital appointment attendance and overnight cover, while education has experienced less disruption. Efforts to address prisoner homelessness on release are also noted.

Key concerns

22 items

Resettlement/Release Delays in notifying prisoners of parole decisions, arising from a backlog of cases, causes significant difficulties for prisoners and staff.

Mental Health Repeated The 28-day target for transfer from custody to a secure hospital was not met locally in five out of 29 cases.

Estate/Conditions Repeated There has been continued inadequacy of accommodation in the CSU and D wing.

Safety Repeated Self-harm levels continue to be high.

Safety Repeated Listeners are being trained, but often step down, so there is limited access to Listeners.

Safety Repeated Challenge, support and intervention plans (CSIPs) continue to be underused and there is a high rate of ‘no further action’ following a referral. Furthermore, investigations are often not completed within 72 hours, all of which affects the level of support to prisoners.

Safety There have been increased levels of use of force and a disproportionate use of force towards young adults.

Staffing Repeated Staffing issues have had an impact on the implementation of key working, as intended in the offender management in custody (OMiC) model.

Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated Delays in prisoners accessing their property.

Complaints/Property Prisoners do not receive responses to applications.

Estate/Conditions Repeated What action can be taken to address the ongoing problems with heating, hot water and delays in repairs?

Equality/Diversity Repeated There is a lack of analysis about the impact of protected characteristics on prisoners’ access to incentives, services and activities.

Complaints/Property The issue with the quality and timeliness of DIRFs has resulted in a lack of confidence in the process by prisoners.

Healthcare Repeated A significant number of healthcare appointments are missed.

Healthcare The medication dispensing hatch remains unfit for purpose, with prisoners queuing outside in all weathers and not being assured of privacy if the queue isn’t well-managed.

Estate/Conditions Clinical and group-work space for physical and mental healthcare and group-work space for mental healthcare is very limited.

Healthcare Repeated Carers for people with support needs can have long waits for escorts or even be turned away at the gate if a serious incident is in progress, leaving prisoners with unmet care needs.

Equality/Diversity The healthcare service does not collect equalities’ data and, therefore, cannot monitor for disproportionate outcomes.

Education/Purposeful Activity The prison has failed to monitor equalities in education, including examining whether there is disproportionate access to classes and qualifications.

Education/Purposeful Activity Repeated Disabled prisoners have not been able to access upper floor classrooms, which prevents their participation in the full range of education provision.

Education/Purposeful Activity Repeated There is not enough staff to run reliable library sessions, resulting in a lack of access by prisoners.

Resettlement/Release Repeated How will you address the problem of prisoners being homelessness on release?

Recommendations

22 items · 14 repeated

#	Recommendation	Addressee
1	Delays in notifying prisoners of parole decisions, arising from a backlog of cases, causes significant difficulties for prisoners and staff. When will this be addressed?	Ministry of Justice
2	The 28-day target for transfer from custody to a secure hospital was not met locally in five out of 29 cases. When will action be taken to address the gaps in hospital provision? Repeated Response Access to secure mental health accommodation is a national issue. Demand is high. A statutory limit of 28 days for transfers from prison to hospital is being monitored, and work is ongoing to improve consistency and quality.	NHS / Healthcare Provider
3	There has been continued inadequacy of accommodation in the CSU and D wing. Will there be further funding to improve the quality and decency of these wings? Repeated Response Replacements for D wing and CSU remain unfunded due to competing pressures. A new portacabin provides space for healthcare admin, freeing up space for treatment, and a second portacabin provides two bespoke spaces for one-to-one interviews. Additional accommodation for healthcare administration has been created, freeing up treatment rooms.	HMPPS
4	Self-harm levels continue to be high. What more can be done to support prisoners who harm themselves? Repeated Response Multidisciplinary approach. Aim to keep women as active as possible. Additional operational support for early days. Analyst appointed to identify trends and themes from data. Re-introduction of key work commenced. ACCT (assessment, care in custody and teamwork document) assurance checks have improved quality.	Governor / Director
5	Listeners are being trained, but often step down, so there is limited access to Listeners. How can retention rates be improved? Repeated Response In 2021, there were five Listeners. One prisoner responsible for large number of calls. Continue to drive availability of Listeners.	Governor / Director
6	Challenge, support and intervention plans (CSIPs) continue to be underused and there is a high rate of ‘no further action’ following a referral. Furthermore, investigations are often not completed within 72 hours, all of which affects the level of support to prisoners. How can this be addressed? Repeated Response CSIP still bedding in. Improvement delivery plan in place. Recently appointed safety hub manager is now decision-maker, with three band 3 officers to investigate referrals and upskill staff.	Governor / Director
7	There have been increased levels of use of force and a disproportionate use of force towards young adults. How can this be reduced?	Governor / Director
8	Staffing issues have had an impact on the implementation of key working, as intended in the offender management in custody (OMiC) model. What action will you be taking to improve staff availability? Repeated Response Activity and safety were prioritised, and key work suspended in the light of staffing gaps.	Governor / Director
9	How will you cut down on the delays in prisoners accessing their property? Repeated Response Recent increase in staffing in reception has reduced delays.	Governor / Director
10	Prisoners do not receive responses to applications. What action can be taken to make this system reliable and timely?	Governor / Director
11	What action can be taken to address the ongoing problems with heating, hot water and delays in repairs? Repeated Response Amey impacted by reduced team due to staff shortages. Additional funding sought to replace old machines.	Governor / Director
12	There is a lack of analysis about the impact of protected characteristics on prisoners’ access to incentives, services and activities. How can this be addressed to ensure there is no discrimination? Repeated Response Work on equalities hampered due to resourcing issues within team. I am looking at affordability in budget.	Governor / Director
13	The issue with the quality and timeliness of DIRFs has resulted in a lack of confidence in the process by prisoners. How – and when – will you address this issue to regain trust and confidence in the overall process?	Governor / Director
14	A significant number of healthcare appointments are missed. What can be done to improve communication to prisoners about appointments and enable their attendance? Repeated Response Currently looking at making instructors aware of healthcare focus on missed appointments, so women can go to work and attend appointments from there.	Governor / Director
15	The medication dispensing hatch remains unfit for purpose, with prisoners queuing outside in all weathers and not being assured of privacy if the queue isn’t well-managed. When will this be addressed?	Governor / Director
16	Clinical and group-work space for physical and mental healthcare and group-work space for mental healthcare is very limited. How can their accommodation be improved?	Governor / Director
17	Carers for people with support needs can have long waits for escorts or even be turned away at the gate if a serious incident is in progress, leaving prisoners with unmet care needs. How can this be addressed? Repeated Response We minimise movement through the gate due to security risks at 7pm. Need to risk-assess whether we can provide later access with social care partners.	Governor / Director
18	The healthcare service does not collect equalities’ data and, therefore, cannot monitor for disproportionate outcomes. When will this be addressed?	Governor / Director
19	The prison has failed to monitor equalities in education, including examining whether there is disproportionate access to classes and qualifications. When will this be addressed?	Governor / Director
20	Disabled prisoners have not been able to access upper floor classrooms, which prevents their participation in the full range of education provision. When will there be a solution? Repeated Response There is a limit to rooms available on ground floor. Prison disability lead is working with People Plus to explore options.	Governor / Director
21	There is not enough staff to run reliable library sessions, resulting in a lack of access by prisoners. When will this be addressed? Repeated Response Team-related issues within library and vacancy in learning and skills manager post. Work taking place with wing staff to raise the profile of library slots.	Governor / Director
22	How will you address the problem of prisoners being homelessness on release? Repeated Response Weekly pre-release meeting supporting action for prisoners approaching release to find accommodation. New prison employment lead in post and advisory Board chaired by Greggs to improve employment outcomes. Work-based release on temporary licence (ROTL) opportunities being explored.	Governor / Director

Related inspections & investigations

13 Jan 2025 HMIP · Unannounced

— PPO fatal incident Phoebe Adlard

— PPO fatal incident Amie Keeling

— PPO fatal incident Angela Shand

— PPO fatal incident Baby C

— PPO fatal incident Emma Kent

Other reports for Foston Hall

2025 Published 16 Apr 2026 · Self-harm 2,014 · Concerns

2024 Published 4 Apr 2025 Population 292 · Self-harm 1,423 · Concerns

2022 Published 23 Mar 2023 Population 231 · Concerns

2021 Published 18 Mar 2022 Population 264 · Concerns

2020 Published 23 Mar 2021 Population 245 · Concerns

Report details

Establishment: Foston Hall
Type: Prison · Cat YOI female
Report year: 2023
Published: 9 May 2024
Responsible body: HMP Foston Hall
Recommendations: 22
MoJ rating (2024/25): 2 — Concern

Population

Population	284
Operational capacity	284

Service providers

Carers

Caring Links agency

Disability support

People Plus

Healthcare

Practice Plus Group

Maintenance

Amey

Peer Support Training

Samaritans

Social care

Derbyshire County Council

Source links

IMB report page → imb.org.uk →