Source · IMB Annual Report
Stoke Heath
Year: 2023
Published: 17 Oct 2023
Type: Prison · Cat C, YOI
Population: 750
Recommendations: 9
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP/YOI Stoke Heath, a Category C training and resettlement prison, experienced an increase in self-harm incidents and near misses, alongside a noticeable rise in illicit items. While overall violence remained low, prisoners spent more time in their cells due to staffing shortages and inadequate purposeful activity, impacting sentence progression. Healthcare provision was generally met, though dental waiting times were long and planned mental health interventions limited. The Board highlighted concerns regarding prisoner property, resettlement support, and the need for more varied education and work opportunities.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 2 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 246 | 228 |
| ACCT cases opened | 217 | 189 |
| Prisoner assaults | 95 | 85 |
| Use of force | 167 | 178 |
Positive findings
The Board found a generally safe and well-ordered regime with low levels of violence. Healthcare needs were largely met, and significant progress was made in multi-disciplinary team meetings for mental health transfers. The new employment hub is creating more opportunities for prisoners, and in-cell telephony has improved family contact. Management of long-term health conditions and support for neurodivergent prisoners were highlighted as best practice.
Key concerns
Safety
Self-harm incidents increased by 8% and near misses (very near self-harm fatalities) have doubled.
Substance Misuse
There is a noticeable increase in illicit items, especially drugs.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Staffing shortages and lack of work opportunities/purposeful activity has meant prisoners are spending more time in their cells.
Complaints/Property
Repeated
Prisoner property is still a major source of complaints.
Healthcare
The waiting time for dental health appointments was too long.
Mental Health
Prisoners were getting limited – but safe – mental healthcare support but planned interventions for severe and enduring mental health issues were lacking.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The lack of courses to meet prisoners’ needs mean that some prisoners found it hard to progress their sentences.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Repeated
Education and work opportunities are still inadequate with barely half of prisoners engaged in these activities.
Resettlement/Release
The number of prisoners without accommodation on release has risen.
Resettlement/Release
Keeping in touch with their families has proved difficult for some prisoners.
Estate/Conditions
Conditions in the 168 double cells are very basic with a double bunk bed, a washbasin and a toilet that is only screened by a curtain. There is little space for two people to manoeuvre and these cells can be very warm in summer and very cold in winter.
Equality/Diversity
HMP/YOI Stoke Heath facilities for people with disabilities are inadequate. For example, there is restricted access in healthcare and education.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Heating residential areas has been an ongoing challenge for several years, but this work has still not started and will be delayed.
Complaints/Property
The Board is still concerned about the quality and timeliness of some of the prison's replies to complaints. Prisoners have in some cases waited for many weeks before receiving answers which when received were incomplete and/or unhelpful.
Equality/Diversity
Some groups of prisoners, e.g. the very old, very young or those having indeterminate prison sentences, are not represented or their needs provided for sufficiently within the prison.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | It would be encouraging if men in resettlement prisons could be actively engaged in resettlement activities, i.e. they should spend less time in their cells and more in purposeful work and training for vocational qualifications. | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | Can the minister provide a clear statement of what society expects from resettlement prisons, together with a list of clear, challenging, measurable targets? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | Can the overall HMPPS budget be increased to enable prisoner wages to rise in line with inflation so that they can afford everyday essentials and have less chance of getting into debt? | HMPPS | |
| 4 | Can the prison service provide a clear policy on transference of property between prisons and ensure that it is enacted? | HMPPS | |
| 5 | Can the process for prisoners to rejoin their community upon release be reviewed, to ensure all prisoners are offered accommodation upon release? | HMPPS | |
| 6 |
Can the key worker role to support offender managers in their work for all prisoners be made a priority in the future?
Repeated
Response
There has been little improvement to the key worker programme during the year. However, in recent months, there has been a commitment to safeguard more key worker contact with prisoners. |
Governor / Director | |
| 7 | Can the prison be creative in finding more places for prisoners to be trained or employed and spend less time in their cells? | Governor / Director | |
| 8 | Can there be a clear plan of action to address the poor performance of education and training to rehabilitate prisoners back into the community? | Governor / Director | |
| 9 | Can prison complaints be answered clearly in a timely manner, by the right person and at the appropriate level? | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 19 | 7 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 14 | 2 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 12 | 10 |
| Equality | 5 | 11 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 24 | 20 |
| Food and kitchens | 13 | 5 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 23 | 54 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 14 | 7 |
| Miscellaneous | 38 | 33 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 28 | 36 |
| Property within the establishment | 27 | 25 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 16 | 11 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 37 | 57 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 79 | 49 |
| Transfers | 54 | 31 |
Related inspections & investigations
9 Jan 2023
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 4
· Respect 3
· Activity 1
· Release 2
Other reports for Stoke Heath
Report details
- Establishment
- Stoke Heath
- Type
- Prison · Cat C, YOI
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 17 October 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Stoke Heath
- Recommendations
- 9
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 2 — Concern
Population
| Population | 750 |
| Operational capacity | 782 |
| CNA (designed for) | 662 113% |
Service providers
Education
Novus
Family Support/Charity
PACT
Healthcare
Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust
Resettlement accommodation
Nacro
Secondary Mental Health (sub-contract)
North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust
Substance Misuse (Psychosocial)
Forward Trust