Source · IMB Annual Report

Oakwood

AI-generated report summary HMP Oakwood, a Category C training and resettlement prison, reported a generally safe and respectful environment for the year ending March 2023, with reductions in self-harm and violent incidents. Healthcare provision by Practice Plus Group was equivalent to community standards, though mental health services faced challenges. Key concerns included persistent issues with food quality and servery hygiene, property losses, underperforming key worker sessions, and delays in mental health transfers due to a lack of secure placements.

Year: 2023 Published: 5 Sep 2023 Type: Prison · Cat C training/resettlement Population: 2,067 Recommendations: 9 Key concerns Positive findings

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Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year

Indicator	This year	Previous
Deaths in custody	1	—
Self-harm incidents	1,139	1,406
ACCT cases opened	403	497
Prisoner assaults	270	324
Assaults on staff	64	99
Use of force	511	560
Drug finds	260	155

Positive findings

AI-generated summary

The Board commends the well-maintained, clean environment and generally good staff-prisoner relationships, noting a significant reduction in self-harm, prisoner-on-prisoner violence, and assaults on staff. Healthcare provision by Practice Plus Group (PPG) is equivalent to community standards, with positive initiatives like Patient Experience Lead clinics and various health promotion programs. Segregation Unit (CSU) staff are praised for their respectful and supportive approach. The prison also benefits from a new Employability Hub and strong peer-led initiatives, with the Chaplaincy Team providing first-class support.

Key concerns

7 items

Mental Health Repeated All transfers to a secure mental health facility go over the 28-day stipulated timeframe. They are monitored on a weekly basis with a Regional Hospital Escalation Meeting and escalated fortnightly with Commissioners. The Mental Health Team remain concerned about the lack of availability of forensic, secure places which means prisoners remain in the CSU without the necessary mental health support.

Food/Catering Repeated Throughout the prison, the serveries have been a regular cause of complaint and concern in respect of the standards and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), equipment not working, and the time taken for repairs. The provision of food has also been a source of complaints in terms of the quality and portion sizes and the levels of waste generated from the same food items.

Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated Since the implementation of the Prisoner Property Policy Framework on 5th September 2022, the Board remains concerned that it is still seeing a lack of adherence to the policy, particularly with missing property from incoming prisoners.

Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated The number of key worker sessions completed during the reporting period was 33,043 against a target of 52,337. Mindful of the number and experience of new staff on the houseblocks and observing the quality of the case notes for some of the key worker sessions, the Board suggests that ongoing reviewing of the quality of case notes and appropriate follow up training be maintained.

Education/Purposeful Activity Repeated Concerns regarding the quality and delivery of some education courses provided by Novus, coupled with difficulties for prisoners in securing available places. Source wording under review

Complaints/Property 17% of all adjudications were either dismissed or NPW during the reported period. This is an area that the Board will continue to monitor during the next reporting period.

Complaints/Property The Board will monitor the submission of complaints which are subsequently deemed requests going forward as this is an area that confuses the prisoners, as they do not fully understand either the process or the rationale that is different in other prisons. The quality of some of the responses to complaints is still a concern to the Board and will be monitored going forward.

Recommendations

9 items · 5 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Other — minister

The Board is concerned that there has been a vacancy for a Psychologist for the duration of the reporting period. A campaign to recruit a Psychologist is ongoing but reports indicate that recruitment is difficult, with too few Psychologists who are either available or willing to work within a prison environment. The career pathway, training and recruitment of Psychologists should be addressed to increase the numbers and promote a positive and attractive career pathway within the Prison Service.

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Mental Health

Recommendation 2

Addressee: HMPPS

Since the implementation of the Prisoner Property Policy Framework on 5th September 2022, the Board remains concerned that it is still seeing a lack of adherence to the policy, particularly with missing property from incoming prisoners. Can this ongoing concern be addressed?

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime