Source · IMB Annual Report
Ashfield
Year: 2023
Published: 12 Dec 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C
Recommendations: 6
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Ashfield, a Category C training prison for sex offenders, maintained a largely safe and secure environment with low violence and drug incidents, and an improved healthcare staffing situation during the reporting year. The Board observed positive staff-prisoner relationships and robust keywork. However, key concerns persist regarding lengthy delays in ministerial decisions on parole for IPP prisoners, the recurring problem of prisoner property loss during transfers, and the inability of the prison to provide accurate accounts for the Prisoner Trust Fund. The Board also noted that recent changes to prisoner movements have caused dismay, making the prison feel more restrictive.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 4 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 159 | 157 |
| ACCT cases opened | 104 | 93 |
| Prisoner assaults | 24 | 18 |
| Assaults on staff | 6 | — |
| Use of force | 21 | — |
| Drug finds | 4 | — |
Positive findings
The Board observed HMP Ashfield maintains a very safe and secure environment with infrequent disruptive or violent behaviour and rare illicit drug detection. ACCT cases are well managed, and self-harm incidents, though similar to last year, are mostly of low severity. Accommodation and catering standards are very good, with high hygiene. Healthcare staffing has improved, leading to a more integrated service beneficial to prisoners, with most waiting times being equivalent or better than community services. Education attendance is high, and the prison is funding its own resettlement services, with interventions ensuring prisoners receive offending behaviour programmes. Staffing levels for PCOs are generally good, and keywork is well managed and robustly assured. The Board commends the various forums for their active role in planning events to promote understanding and tolerance, contributing to a harmonious atmosphere. Chaplaincy provides a commendably high level of service and emotional support.
Key concerns
Resettlement/Release
Delays in the Secretary of State’s decision-making process with regard to confirming or rejecting parole board recommendations for open conditions for Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) and life-sentenced prisoners. On average, it has taken eight months for a decision to be received.
Other
Repeated
Despite numerous assurances over a number of years that the loss of prisoner property during transfer from prison to prison will be addressed, no significant progress has been made, and it remains a serious issue.
Healthcare
With the large number of elderly prisoners in the custodial estate (particularly in prisons such as Ashfield), cases of dementia and terminal illness requiring 24-hour care are increasing. The specific needs of these prisoners cannot be adequately met in normal prison conditions.
Other
Repeated
The Board remains concerned at the inability of the prison to produce accurate income and expenditure accounts for the PTF, despite repeated requests for this information. The fund is designated solely for the improvement of prisoner facilities and services not covered by the Serco contract and is generated entirely from the surplus made from prisoner telephone calls and purchases from the prison shop. The prevailing prisoner view is that these charges are higher than in other prison establishments.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The implementation of the local incentives policy (IP) scheme, covering all aspects concerned with general behaviour management, is perceived, when compared to the national policy, as less incentivising and more disciplinary.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
The Board acknowledges that recent changes to how prisoner movements are conducted have been necessary whilst dilapidation work has been undertaken, and to align HMP Ashfield more closely with security requirements. However, these changes have caused dismay amongst longer-stay prisoners who had earned their category C status some time ago by demonstrating a good level of behaviour and self-discipline and who now regularly comment that the establishment increasingly feels like a category B prison.
Estate/Conditions
Accommodation and catering standards have continued to remain very good, with high standards of hygiene and decoration, though there are ongoing problems with some showers and in-cell wash basins considered by the IMB as unhygienic due to peeling paint and mould. Dilapidation and deep clean work is, however, scheduled to address these concerns.
Healthcare
The exception to this is the optician service, with a waiting list of over 92 in June 2023.
Healthcare
The high level of medical and social care required by two seriously ill prisoners highlighted the problems caused by the lack of an in-patient care facility at Ashfield, or a suitable regional HMPPS specialist facility to which they could be transferred.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The Board continues to have concerns about the number of education and training sessions cancelled, even if the problem is in part mitigated by the employment of two non-specialist cover supervisors.
Staffing
Repeated
It is unfortunate, however, that the Equalities PCO has often to cope with less practical support from colleagues than she needs, and this can sometimes result in delays before key action points can be delivered and issues resolved. A clear example of this is the disappointingly poor level of attendance by officer “champions” at the scheduled monthly forums’ meetings (as evidenced by attendance statistics shared at DEAT meetings. Despite repeated assurances over the last couple of years that this matter would be addressed, it remains ongoing.
Equality/Diversity
The data presented at DEAT meetings was not as comprehensive and much of it was of questionable relevance as there had been only minimal attempt in most cases to analyse it in terms of the impact of various policies and procedures on the different protected characteristic groups. Moreover, the rapidity with which data had been presented at meetings had given prisoner representatives insufficient time to digest it or raise any pertinent questions.
Complaints/Property
While the Board appreciates that the prison has been successful in reducing complaints, the Board would value more recorded detail about all the complaints, in terms of who they are from and what has been done about them. Further breakdown would also help to uncover and hopefully rule out any deeper equality and diversity issues with regard to different protected characteristics. As they stand, the focus in responding to complaints can seem over-quantitative rather than qualitative. The Board would hope, too, that, in the prison’s recent drive to reduce formal complaints, prisoners have not become wary of making them. Written responses to formal complaints seen by the Board vary considerably in quality.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Why, after parole boards have recommended that life sentenced and IPP prisoners convicted of sexual offences be transferred to open conditions, is it taking such a lengthy period of time for these to be confirmed or rejected by the Secretary of State for Justice? What assurances can the Minister give that this can be reduced in the near future?
Response
I have read your report with care and acknowledge your concerns about the delays in considering prisoners for open conditions and thank you for drawing this to my attention. As you may be aware, on 17 July 2023, the Secretary of State directed a change to simplify the criteria by which indeterminate sentenced prisoner (ISP) are assessed for suitability for open conditions. In order for an ISP to be judged suitable for a move the following criteria must be met: 1.) the prisoner has made sufficient progress during the sentence in addressing and reducing risk to a level consistent with protecting the public from harm (in circumstances where the prisoner in open conditions may be in the community, unsupervised under licenced temporary release); 2.) the prisoner is assessed as low risk of abscond; and 3.) there is a wholly persuasive case for transferring the ISP from closed to open conditions. The Parole Board, since 1 August 2023, has applied the new test to all hearings. Where a prisoner is awaiting a decision from the Secretary of State (including imprisonment for public protection prisoners convicted of sexual offences) on whether a move to open conditions will be accepted or rejected, this will be considered under the new criteria and they will be notified accordingly, within 28 calendar days. I can assure the Board that HM Prison and Probation Service is currently exploring further initiatives to develop the process for considering open conditions for ISPs to ensure decisions are made swiftly and effectively. Ministers are not the singular authority, officials with delegated responsibility can also make decisions on behalf of the Secretary of State to expedite the process. |
Ministry of Justice | In progress |
| 2 |
Despite numerous assurances over a number of years that the loss of prisoner property during transfer from prison to prison will be addressed, no significant progress has been made, and it remains a serious issue. What additional practical actions to those already identified are being taken by HMPPS to address this?
Repeated
Response
We appreciate the Board’s feedback. The Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework was designed with procedural justice at its core and to ensure consistency and fairness and enhance prisoners’ satisfaction with processes and outcomes. Given the nature of property, and the movement of prisoners between establishments, it’s focus was to provide greater direction and standardisation on a national basis. The Framework strengthens processes in relation to the main problem areas identified by IMBs including the handling of valuable property, managing cell clearances, volumetric control compliance and excess property following a prisoner’s transfer. The Framework clearly outlines that Governors and Directors should ensure management checks are undertaken to have confidence that prisoners’ property is being handled correctly and with care (e.g., that property cards are being completed accurately and that the volume of property held by prisoners is checked regularly and does not become excessive). HMPPS will continue to monitor the impact of the new Framework going forward and will continue to look at what further improvements can be made. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 3 |
With the large number of elderly prisoners in the custodial estate (particularly in prisons such as Ashfield), cases of dementia and terminal illness requiring 24-hour care are increasing. The specific needs of these prisoners cannot be adequately met in normal prison conditions. What plans does the Prison Service have for addressing this issue through the creation of specialist custodial centres?
Response
Thank you highlighting some other excellent work and initiatives, in particular, the support for a terminally ill prisoner who needed palliative care and the prisoner with dementia. Like the Board, I applaud HMP Ashfield and healthcare for the level of care provided to these prisoners in difficult circumstances. I hope to reassure the Board that in response to the demographic change in the prison population, houseblocks in the new prison design will have medical and accessible cells with lift access and finishes to aid way- finding and orientation for people with reduced cognition or visual impairments (noting the new builds already delivered under the prison place programme have such features). The Ministry of Justice and HMPPS are currently developing an ageing population strategy, which will include management of those with dementia and those in need of end-of-life care. As part of this, we will be considering the use of specialist units for prisoners with significant health or social care needs. The strategy will be published in 2024 and will set out our vision. As recognised by the Board, HMP Ashfield has taken positive steps to ensure cells are warmer for older prisoners, including the additional purchasing of cell heaters and extra duvets, where needed. The Director will continue to support the older population and will regularly review processes for any improvements to be made. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 4 | The Board remains concerned at the inability of the prison to produce accurate income and expenditure accounts for the PTF, despite repeated requests for this information. The fund is designated solely for the improvement of prisoner facilities and services not covered by the Serco contract and is generated entirely from the surplus made from prisoner telephone calls and purchases from the prison shop. The prevailing prisoner view is that these charges are higher than in other prison establishments. The Board asks yet again, therefore, for transparency and accountability in the case of this fund and for accurate accounts to be produced. Repeated | Governor / Director | |
| 5 | Can the Director give an assurance that the implementation of the most recently revised IP scheme will be subject to rigorous, ongoing monitoring to ensure that it is closely aligned with the philosophy and practice of the national incentives scheme and it is applied consistently and that it will be subject to a further review in June 2024? | Governor / Director | |
| 6 | In order to retain prisoner goodwill and compliance, can the Director provide reassurance that the rationale for any permanent changes is discussed with prisoners and their concerns are taken into consideration? Any changes need to be clearly communicated to all prisoners. | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 |
| Correspondence (including legal) | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline/adjudication | 0 | 0 |
| Family | 0 | 0 |
| Healthcare | 17 | 21 |
| Other | 34 | 33 |
| Property | 10 | 13 |
| Release on temporary licence | 0 | 0 |
| Segregation | 3 | 2 |
| Total | 109 | 107 |
Related inspections & investigations
9 Oct 2023
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 4
· Respect 4
· Activity 1
· Release 4
Other reports for Ashfield
Report details
- Establishment
- Ashfield
- Type
- Prison · Cat C
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 12 December 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Ashfield
- Recommendations
- 6
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Operational capacity | 412 |
| CNA (designed for) | 416 |
Service providers
Catering
Serco
Education
Milton Keynes College
Facilities Management
Serco
Healthcare
Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust
IMB Secretariat
NOMS Shared Services
Laundry
Serco
Waste Management
Serco