Source · IMB Annual Report
Standford Hill
Year: 2023
Published: 19 Sep 2023
Type: Prison · Cat D
Population: 460
Recommendations: 9
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP/YOI Standford Hill is recognized as a well-run Category D prison, excelling in resettlement and providing substantial opportunities for prisoners to gain skills and employment, contributing to low re-offending rates. The prison maintains a safe environment with zero reported self-harm, assaults, or deaths in custody during the reporting period, and healthcare provision has significantly improved. Key concerns include the persistent poor performance of GFSL, the potential negative impact of the TPRS on resettlement, and the need for scanning equipment and modern monitoring technology.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 0 | — |
| ACCT cases opened | 0 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 0 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 0 | — |
Positive findings
HMP/YOI Standford Hill is a well-run prison with substantial achievements, particularly in resettlement, working-out, training, and education, which significantly reduces re-offending rates. The prison maintains low levels of violence, self-harm, and deaths in custody. Staff sickness rates have notably improved, positively affecting the regime. The physical and mental healthcare provided by Oxleas NHS Trust is very good and well co-ordinated, including new weekend provision.
Key concerns
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The performance of Gov Facility Services Ltd (GFSL) remains unsatisfactory, with slow maintenance response times, bureaucratic procedures, and specific problems noted for laundry machine repairs.
Resettlement/Release
The Temporary Presumptive Recategorisation Scheme (TPRS) could result in a dilution of the resettlement work undertaken by Category D prisons and a reduction in prisoners involved in the Working Out Scheme (WOS).
Safety
The lack of scanning equipment at Standford Hill makes preventing illicit items very difficult due to the prison's open boundaries and fluid population, despite spare scanners existing within the prison estate.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
The monitoring of prisoners on Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) and the Working Out Scheme (WOS) could be made much more effective by commercially available technological solutions, which are not yet approved by the Prison Service.
Other
There is a lack of formal sharing of best practice and comparative information between Category D prisons, hindering the wider benefit of Standford Hill's achievements and procedures.
Food/Catering
There is a lot of dissatisfaction with the quality and variety of food provision, despite portion size generally being considered adequate.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Sporadic internet facilities continue, with no improvement noted in the year.
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The overall condition of much of the property remains the same despite some maintenance being carried out.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Are there any plans to review the performance of the service provided by GFSL? Repeated | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | Will a formal review of the impact be carried out? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | Is the Prison Service satisfied with the performance of GFSL? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 4 | Is a formal review planned about the effect of TPRS on the resettlement work done in Category D prisons? | HMPPS | |
| 5 | Will the Prison Service provide the resources to allow for this equipment to be installed in Standford Hill? | HMPPS | |
| 6 | Will the Prison Service allow such equipment to be used within Standford Hill? Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 7 | Will the Prison Service facilitate more formal sharing of best practice between Category D prisons? | HMPPS | |
| 8 | Will it be possible to improve staff sickness rates further while maintaining a compassionate working environment? | Governor / Director | |
| 9 | We assume that this focus will continue into the next reporting period? Repeated | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 1 | 1 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogues | 3 | 0 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 4 | 0 |
| Equality | 3 | 0 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 8 | 0 |
| Food and kitchens | 5 | 1 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 4 | 3 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection, restrictions | 2 | 0 |
| Miscellaneous | 3 | 0 |
| Property during transfer or in another facility | 7 | 0 |
| Property within the establishment | 1 | 0 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, time out of cell | 5 | 3 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, ROTL, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 8 | 6 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 4 | 0 |
| Transfers | 0 | 0 |
Related inspections & investigations
8 Oct 2024
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 4
· Respect 3
· Activity 4
· Release 4
Other reports for Standford Hill
Report details
- Establishment
- Standford Hill
- Type
- Prison · Cat D
- Report year
- 2023
- Published
- 19 September 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Standford Hill
- Recommendations
- 9
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 4 — Outstanding
Population
| Population | 460 |
| Operational capacity | 464 |
| CNA (designed for) | 464 99% |
Service providers
Chaplaincy
Irish Roman Catholic Chaplain
Community Support
Romani Slovak Czech Community
Education
Milton Keynes College
Extra Provision
East Kent College
Family Support
Pact (Prison Advice and Care Trust)
Healthcare
Oxleas
Interventions Alliance
Interventions Alliance
Kinetic Youth
Kinetic Youth
Library
KSS Libraries
Maintenance
GFSL
Rocketeer
DPS
Substance Misuse
CGL (Change, Grow Live)
Veterans Support
Combat for Care