Garth

Response
I understand the Board’s concerns about the consultation process for policies introduced within prisons. When new operational policies are developed or existing policies are reviewed these are overseen by a Governance Board. The Board is jointly chaired by Executive Directors representing prisons and probation and with wide-ranging membership from across the Ministry of Justice and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS). Part of the process requires extensive consultation and policy owners are encouraged to consult widely internally, externally with third sector organisations and scrutiny bodies, as well as those representing staff and offenders as appropriate. There is also a requirement to formally consult with recognised trade unions. The Governance Board will only approve policies for implementation once they are satisfied that the relevant development has been undertaken and the auditing and monitoring of each policy once implemented are set out in the policy.

Response
It is also acknowledged that there have been issues where the facilities management provider at HMP Garth has been unable to keep up with the volume of remedial work. However, their delivery performance has improved over the past year and as several projects require capital funding these have been outside of the facilities management provider’s control. Replacement of domestic appliances, such as laundry equipment also sit outside of the facilities management provider contract who do install these as soon as the establishment purchase them. The Governor meets with the site manager on a weekly basis to hold them to account and all cells that are out of action are reported in the morning meeting and the progress being made is tracked. The prison has also employed a handyperson to maintain some areas which is making improvements but it is recognised that there remains more work to do still.

Response
Funding had previously been available to install some stairlifts, two years ago late in the financial year, and as a result the facilities management provider installed the power supplies in readiness. However, the specialist stairlift contractors were unable to deliver or install the lifts within the financial year and as such the funding was no longer available. Since then, installation has not featured again as a priority due to the competing pressures on the limited funding that is available.

Response
It is acknowledged that there is only one holding area within healthcare which was built when HMP Garth had a smaller population and this is now cramped for the numbers of prisoners required at healthcare each day as the prison population increased. Capital bids have been submitted in previous years but these were unsuccessful and this has not featured again as a priority due to competing pressures on the limited funding that is available. In the meantime, there has been a review of prisoners attending healthcare and the health provider is considering holding clinics on some of the wings to reduce the numbers of prisoners required at healthcare.

Response
Probation staffing is currently in a challenging position in the North West region with an imbalance of experienced and inexperienced staff. Whilst it has been positive that a large number of probation officers and probation service officers have been successfully recruited, the next step is supporting these staff in their new roles. Decisions about where to prioritise staffing in prisons is made at the Senior Leaders forum between the Prison Group Director and Regional Probation Director. Although the preferred option would be to move experienced staff into a prison, there is a large number of new staff in both community and prison settings which requires appropriate support. The case management support model is being used in prisons and in the community to upskill new staff and allow them to provide a support function to more experienced staff, who are better placed to manage risk. Newly qualified probation staff within HMP Garth also have a dedicated PQiP manager to support them alongside their manager in the Offender Management Unit. They will also continue to develop their learning by attending ongoing training events as part of the Newly Qualified Officers programme.

Response
HMPPS continues to strive to maintain offender flows in the face of ongoing, unprecedented population pressures across the entire adult male prison estate. The remand population has grown to unprecedented numbers as a result of the courts backlog and recent industrial action taken by the Criminal Bar Association with the impact of this being felt in the training estate. Prisons are encouraged to respect offender flows as much as possible and to ensure that the individual and their rehabilitation needs are met and protected. However, HMP Garth does currently have around 150 category C prisoners. Category B and C training prisons have been asked to continue holding certain cohorts of prisoners to help keep space available in the resettlement estate for use by reception prisons. This flexibility is a shorter-term measure and it is anticipated that this will be mitigated as the prisoner population continues to increase at HMP Five Wells and the recently opened HMP Fosse Way.

Response
I understand the prison implemented a new profile in May 2023 to address many of the regime issues and to provide increased purposeful activity and key work sessions. Engagement has also taken place with the national team leading on competence and confidence to improve the ability of prison officers at HMP Garth and I look forward to the Board being able to report on the prisons progress in the coming reporting year.