Source · IMB Annual Report

Grendon

AI-generated report summary HMP Grendon, a Category B therapeutic prison, saw improvements in its regime post-Covid restrictions, with low levels of self-harm, assaults, and no deaths in custody. Staff-prisoner relationships remained excellent, and initiatives in diversity and family contact were strong. However, the prison faced ongoing challenges from a protracted fire safety project, persistent issues with night sanitation, and a noticeable erosion of its therapeutic culture post-pandemic. Significant concerns remain regarding staffing shortages in key areas, delays in transferring men out of therapy, and inadequate governance of healthcare data, all contributing to a difficult operational environment despite the positive progress in other areas.

Year: 2022 Published: 12 May 2023 Type: Prison · Cat B Population: 160 Recommendations: 13 Key concerns Positive findings

Original IMB report page ↗ Ministerial response · 5 Jul 2023 ↗

Safety statistics

Incidents during reporting year

Indicator	This year	Previous
Deaths in custody	0	—
Self-harm incidents	28	38
ACCT cases opened	32	38
Prisoner assaults	4	—
Assaults on staff	1	—
Use of force	3	5
Drug finds	12	12

Positive findings

AI-generated summary

HMP Grendon maintained safety with low levels of self-harm, assaults, use of force, and no deaths in custody. Staff-prisoner relationships are excellent, and the DIRF process significantly improved, leading to a 47% reduction in complaints. Family contact, including social visits and video calls, is strong, with 84% of men reporting that their experience at Grendon made them less likely to reoffend. Education success rates remain impressive, and library membership has increased significantly, showcasing positive engagement.

Key concerns

13 items

Resettlement/Release Is the Minister aware of the impact of decisions to override Parole Board recommendations both for the men and probation staff involved as well as the wider repercussions on the therapeutic communities (7.3.1)?

Regime/Time Out of Cell The lack of availability to transport men out of therapy (OOT) needs to be addressed to avoid unnecessary delays and distress (4.4.1 and 7.1.7).

Estate/Conditions Improvements to the delivery schedule of the ongoing fire and safety project, as well as improved handovers of completed wings, are necessary in order to reduce disruption and return the prison to capacity (5.1).

Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated Improvements to night sanitation from the fire safety project have yet to be evidenced and the Board continues to believe that the system does not meet decency and hygiene outcomes for prisoners (5.1.2).

Complaints/Property There appears to be no maximum response time for appeals against adjudications sent to the external assessment unit (5.2.3).

Regime/Time Out of Cell There is insufficient budget for the prison to fund a fairer wage to help offset the increased costs that the men face in canteen and other purchases (7.2.1).

Regime/Time Out of Cell Repeated Continued progress on rebuilding culture and ethos on the communities (7.1.3).

Complaints/Property Training on responses to complaints (5.7.2).

Healthcare Improved governance of healthcare data and outcomes (6.1.2) and overseeing delivery of health champions and improved communication with men (6.1.7).

Staffing Delivery of staff training e.g. suicide and self-harm (SASH) (4.2.6).

Safety Repeated Reporting on response times to cell bells (4.2.4).

Equality/Diversity The good work on D&I being sustained (5.4).

Education/Purposeful Activity The problem of men being pulled from education to attend therapy sessions (7.6.9).

Recommendations

13 items · 3 repeated

Recommendation 1

Addressee: Ministry of Justice

Is the Minister aware of the impact of decisions to override Parole Board recommendations both for the men and probation staff involved as well as the wider repercussions on the therapeutic communities (7.3.1)?

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Resettlement

Recommendation 2

Addressee: HMPPS

The lack of availability to transport men out of therapy (OOT) needs to be addressed to avoid unnecessary delays and distress (4.4.1 and 7.1.7).

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime

Recommendation 3

Addressee: HMPPS

Improvements to the delivery schedule of the ongoing fire and safety project, as well as improved handovers of completed wings, are necessary in order to reduce disruption and return the prison to capacity (5.1).

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Estate

Recommendation 4

Addressee: HMPPS

Improvements to night sanitation from the fire safety project have yet to be evidenced and the Board continues to believe that the system does not meet decency and hygiene outcomes for prisoners (5.1.2).

Repeated Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Regime

Recommendation 5

Addressee: HMPPS

There appears to be no maximum response time for appeals against adjudications sent to the external assessment unit (5.2.3).

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Complaints

Recommendation 6

Addressee: HMPPS

There is insufficient budget for the prison to fund a fairer wage to help offset the increased costs that the men face in canteen and other purchases (7.2.1).

Source text verified

Recorded status:

Topic: Welfare