The summary and positive findings below were written from the report by an AI model. The Board's own wording is in the report linked above.
Summary
Summary written by this site (AI-generated)
HMP Northumberland generally provides a safe and humane environment, with improvements in regime and education post-Covid, and promising employment initiatives like The Recruitment Junction. However, significant challenges persist concerning mental health support and transfers, unreliable healthcare provision, and poor resettlement outcomes, especially regarding post-release employment and housing. These issues, particularly mental health and homelessness, remain areas of repeated concern for the Board.
Positive findings
Summary written by this site (AI-generated)
The Board notes that the prison is generally safe and treats prisoners fairly and humanely. Post-Covid, the regime has improved access to workplaces and out-of-cell time. Positive initiatives include a partnership with The Recruitment Junction for employment and the creation of a Prison Employment Lead post. Education provision is extensive, well-staffed, and offers good opportunities for skills development up to degree level. The Board also commends the respectful treatment reported by new arrivals and the low self-harm rate for a Category C prison.
Recommendations 2 items · 1 repeated
Recommendations were extracted from the report by AI, and responses and their status from the ministerial response by AI. Each recommendation shows whether its wording has been checked against the report.
Response: In progress
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Mental Health · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The Board remains concerned about the availability of mental health support for prisoners and the delay in identifying appropriate placements for prisoners with serious mental health conditions.
Government response (as published)
I note the Board remains concerned about the lack of mental health support for prisoners with serious mental health conditions and long waits to access secure inpatient treatment in a mental health hospital. NHS England recognises that there have been some challenges associated to the availability of mental health staff at HMP Northumberland. Spectrum and their sub-contractor Tees, Esk and Wear Valley’s Mental Health Trust have submitted a business case to increase the overall staffing levels in healthcare, including several additional dedicated mental health posts. NHS England is confident that, subject to recruitment, this will provide better mental health support to the men at HMP Northumberland. Transfer delays continue to be escalated to the mental health Provider Collaboratives and Specialised Commissioners both regionally and nationally, given this is a widespread issue. The Director of HMP Northumberland attends the Clinical Governance Board to monitor the provision and this collaborative work helps to ensure prisoners get transferred to a secure bed as quickly as possible. There have been several local developments to Assessment, Care in Custody and Teamwork including upskilling managers as case coordinators, the introduction of a weekly Safety Intervention Meeting to provide an additional layer of governance around the management of self-harm risks and an increase in the provision of Listeners.
Response: Implemented
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Education & Employment
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The Board would like to see the continuing development of education and employment opportunities for prisoners during their sentences, as well as identifying opportunities when they leave.
Government response (as published)
Turning to some positive comments helpfully captured in your report, it was encouraging to read HMP Northumberland is considered a safe prison and prisoners receive fair and humane treatment. It was also encouraging to hear about the good work linked to the partnership with Recruitment Junction supporting prisoners to find employment upon release and the creation of the Prison Employment Lead post.
Key concerns 7 items
Key concerns were extracted from the report text by an AI model.
Key concern 1
Mental Health · Repeated from a previous year
The Board remains concerned about the availability of mental health support for prisoners and the delay in identifying appropriate placements for prisoners with serious mental health conditions.
Key concern 2
Resettlement/Release · Repeated from a previous year
men were being released into homeless situations and we sought an assurance that the agencies charged with the responsibility for housing men on release were fulfilling those duties. There does not appear to have been any improvement in this area.
Key concern 3
Safety
The general interview at reception to identify potential vulnerabilities needs more privacy.
Key concern 4
Safety
HM Inspectorate of Prisons felt that too many ACCTs were closed without adequate exploration of the causes for self-harm, and use of ‘listeners’ – prisoners who receive specialist training to support mental health and wellbeing – could be improved.
Key concern 5
Substance Misuse
Drug availability was stated to be easy in the recent HM Inspectorate of Prisons’ survey of prisoners.
Key concern 6
Healthcare
There were difficulties with staffing and leadership throughout 2022, leading to instances of unreliable healthcare provision to prisoners.
Key concern 7
Resettlement/Release
The proportion of prisoners who are in employment 6 weeks after release underlines poor rehabilitation and release planning. Against a target of 20%, in October 2022 only 12% of prisoners were in employment 6 weeks after release.
Safety statistics
Incidents during the reporting year.
Report details
- Establishment
- Northumberland
- Type
- Prison, category C
- Report year
- 2022
- Published
- 10 August 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Northumberland
- Recommendations
- 2
- MoJ rating (2025/26)
- 3, Good
Related inspections and investigations
HMIP inspection, 27 Aug 2025
Unannounced · Safety 3 · Respect 3 · Activity 3 · Release 3
HMIP inspection, 5 Sep 2022
Unannounced
HMIP inspection, 15 Sep 2020
Inspection
PPO fatal incident · 6 Oct 2026
PPO fatal incident
PPO fatal incident
PPO fatal incident · Natural causes
PPO fatal incident
Prevention of future deaths report · 9 Oct 2014 · State Custody related deaths
Other reports for Northumberland
Published 17 Jul 2026 · Population 1,194 · Key concerns recorded
Published 6 Jun 2025 · Population 1,213 · Key concerns recorded
Published 5 Jul 2024 · Population 1,339 · Self-harm 463 · Key concerns recorded
Published 26 May 2022 · Population 1,338 · Self-harm 312 · Key concerns recorded
Published 2 Jun 2021 · Population 1,222 · Self-harm 423 · Key concerns recorded