Bullingdon

Response
I appreciate the Board’s recognition of the various initiatives taken by HMPPS to improve staff retention and training for those with limited experience. HMP Bullingdon’s use of detached duty staff is expected to continue for the short term, however, this will reduce as staffing levels improve. The prison has worked hard to improve staff retention and data indicates that this is having a positive effect. Local and national recruitment efforts have led to an increasingly healthy pipeline of new officers and operational support grades and we are optimistic that staffing levels will improve in the coming months. Nationally, HMPPS has created a retention strategy which is linked to wider activities around employee experience, employee lifecycle, and staff engagement at work. Alongside the strategy, the retention toolkit continues to help identify local, regional, and national interventions against the drivers of attrition. This is utilised by establishments and Probation Delivery Units to ensure that they are embedding localised Retention Plans. Since the launch of the retention strategy, toolkit, and exit interview process in 2021, a new retention oversight process was introduced across prisons and probation in August 2022. The retention oversight process targets priority sites, both prison establishments and Probation Delivery Units, with the highest attrition rates and those that are a cause for concern. Line managers at HMP Bullingdon meet with all staff on probation each month to review progress and identify any additional training or support needed together with performance monitoring. The prison has a robust training plan in place which includes a bespoke package designed to help staff manage boundaries and relationships with prisoners. HMP Bullingdon is currently running the Confidence and Capability toolkit, a HMPPS headquarters-designed series of briefings to frontline staff to upskill them in key tasks. Line managers are also being given additional training and support to improve their own capability and confidence. Feedback from the local annual staff survey informs HMP Bullingdon’s People Plan which sets out what action is being taken to address concerns and develop the workforce.

Response
All leavers are offered an exit interview to share their reasons for leaving. A People Plan has been developed which sets out how the prison will support, develop and retain staff. The shortage of staff in the prison has continued to increase.

Response
I appreciate the Board’s recognition of the various initiatives taken by HMPPS to improve staff retention and training for those with limited experience. HMP Bullingdon’s use of detached duty staff is expected to continue for the short term, however, this will reduce as staffing levels improve. The prison has worked hard to improve staff retention and data indicates that this is having a positive effect. Local and national recruitment efforts have led to an increasingly healthy pipeline of new officers and operational support grades and we are optimistic that staffing levels will improve in the coming months. Nationally, HMPPS has created a retention strategy which is linked to wider activities around employee experience, employee lifecycle, and staff engagement at work. Alongside the strategy, the retention toolkit continues to help identify local, regional, and national interventions against the drivers of attrition. This is utilised by establishments and Probation Delivery Units to ensure that they are embedding localised Retention Plans. Since the launch of the retention strategy, toolkit, and exit interview process in 2021, a new retention oversight process was introduced across prisons and probation in August 2022. The retention oversight process targets priority sites, both prison establishments and Probation Delivery Units, with the highest attrition rates and those that are a cause for concern. Line managers at HMP Bullingdon meet with all staff on probation each month to review progress and identify any additional training or support needed together with performance monitoring. The prison has a robust training plan in place which includes a bespoke package designed to help staff manage boundaries and relationships with prisoners. HMP Bullingdon is currently running the Confidence and Capability toolkit, a HMPPS headquarters-designed series of briefings to frontline staff to upskill them in key tasks. Line managers are also being given additional training and support to improve their own capability and confidence. Feedback from the local annual staff survey informs HMP Bullingdon’s People Plan which sets out what action is being taken to address concerns and develop the workforce.

Response
The Head of Reducing Reoffending is actively engaged in finding skilled work opportunities and courses that are tailored to the needs of remand and short-term prisoners. The prison has been making great efforts to find skilled work opportunities for prisoners both in the prison and upon their release.

Response
A refreshed induction programme has been introduced for new staff. Further staff training has been delivered. The proportion of staff with limited experience has continued to increase.

Response
Enhanced Gate Security (EGS) was introduced as part of the Security Investment Programme (SIP) in forty-two (42) high-risk prisons, which included HMP Bullingdon. The SIP package comprised new measures to tackle trafficking and the presence of contraband in prisons, including drugs and mobile phones. EGS was specifically designed to enhance local capabilities at the gate area and improve prison security entry systems, thereby reducing the conveyance of illicit items. EGS replicates the measures used in airport screening and has introduced routine searching arrangements for staff and visitors on entry. It included investment in staff, drugs dogs, and the implementation of a range of security equipment such as fixed archway metal detection scanners, x-ray baggage scanners, and hand-held metal detection wands. Recent evidence and intelligence indicates that the availability of drugs reduced over the last four months of 2023. The number of incidents where prisoners are believed to be ‘Under the Influence’ has reduced in frequency and severity, with fewer finds of psychoactive substances within the establishment. In addition to the EGS measures and x-ray body scanner, HMP Bullingdon’s use of regional search teams for intelligence led searching together with a dog team to check all incoming mail is also proving successful in reducing supply. The use of drones by external organised crime groups is a growing concern and not exclusive to HMP Bullingdon. Reporting and evidence handling processes are in place in the event of a drone being intercepted or found.

Response
The prison has contracted a Substance Misuse Service. Key workers have been allocated to a drug-free spur. This spur is to obtain funding for drug-testing. Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings continue to be facilitated. The level of availability of illegal substances remains high.

Response
Enhanced Gate Security (EGS) was introduced as part of the Security Investment Programme (SIP) in forty-two (42) high-risk prisons, which included HMP Bullingdon. The SIP package comprised new measures to tackle trafficking and the presence of contraband in prisons, including drugs and mobile phones. EGS was specifically designed to enhance local capabilities at the gate area and improve prison security entry systems, thereby reducing the conveyance of illicit items. EGS replicates the measures used in airport screening and has introduced routine searching arrangements for staff and visitors on entry. It included investment in staff, drugs dogs, and the implementation of a range of security equipment such as fixed archway metal detection scanners, x-ray baggage scanners, and hand-held metal detection wands. Recent evidence and intelligence indicates that the availability of drugs reduced over the last four months of 2023. The number of incidents where prisoners are believed to be ‘Under the Influence’ has reduced in frequency and severity, with fewer finds of psychoactive substances within the establishment. In addition to the EGS measures and x-ray body scanner, HMP Bullingdon’s use of regional search teams for intelligence led searching together with a dog team to check all incoming mail is also proving successful in reducing supply. The use of drones by external organised crime groups is a growing concern and not exclusive to HMP Bullingdon. Reporting and evidence handling processes are in place in the event of a drone being intercepted or found.

Response
No response. The level of violence in the prison remains high.

Response
No response. The number of cases of self-harm in the prison remains high.