Source · IMB Annual Report
Forest Bank
Year: 2022
Published: 30 Mar 2023
Type: Prison · Cat Category B
Recommendations: 4
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMP Forest Bank transitioned to a reception and resettlement prison, facing challenges from Covid-19 impacts and staff shortages, though a comprehensive reform programme has since improved conditions. Violence and self-harm levels began to decrease, and purposeful activity, alongside time out of cell, increased significantly by the end of the reporting period. While healthcare provision maintained a good standard, mental health transfer waiting times remained a significant concern.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 5 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 800 | 994 |
| Prisoner assaults | 574 | 610 |
| Use of force | 865 | 1,394 |
Positive findings
The Board welcomes the swift intervention following an HMPPS improvement notice, including the appointment of a new director and an extensive refurbishment programme leading to significant improvements in living conditions and the prison regime. Levels of violence and self-harm have started to decrease in recent months. Healthcare provision has maintained a good standard with all internal services resumed, and there is a strong, dedicated substance misuse team. The enhanced activity of the security team has made the prison safer, and the staff-prisoner relationship remains positive overall. There have also been significant improvements in social visits and resettlement planning, with 96% of scheduled releases offered employment.
Key concerns
Overcrowding
Ongoing pressure on HMP Forest Bank to make space for the large number of prisoners arriving from court each weekday so that prisoners do not need to be diverted to other prisons outside the area.
Mental Health
Repeated
The transfer of prisoners to hospital under the Mental Health Act does not occur within Department of Health guidance timescales, leading to detrimental impact on prisoners’ mental health.
Healthcare
Lack of adequate resourcing to provide for a staffed inpatient unit and further therapeutic services as part of the new healthcare contract.
Education/Purposeful Activity
The education curriculum is not aligned with prisoners’ needs and demographics, and there is a lack of breadth in course offerings.
Safety
Levels of violence, particularly in-cell violence, remain too high, and young adults (18-25) are disproportionately involved.
Estate/Conditions
Shower facilities are of a poor standard, with inadequate drainage and a lack of privacy for prisoners.
Staffing
The key worker scheme is struggling due to ongoing staff shortages, resulting in staff being unable to conduct quality, person-centred sessions and many prisoners not knowing their key worker.
Complaints/Property
Property issues continue to be a concern, with complaints about missing property, especially when prisoners are moved within the prison.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | What measures will you take to ease the ongoing pressure on HMP Forest Bank to make space for the large number of prisoners arriving from court each weekday so that prisoners do not need to be diverted to other prisons outside the area? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 |
What measures will you take to ensure that the transfer of prisoners to hospital under the Mental Health Act occurs within the Department of Health guidance timescales?
Repeated
Response
The IMB notes that this recommendation was not accepted by HMP Forest Bank on the basis that although the prison supports the transfer of patients to hospital under the Mental Health Act in a timely manner, the lack of available beds falls outside of HMP Forest Bank’s control. |
Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | Can you provide reassurance that adequate resourcing will be made available to provide for a staffed inpatient unit and further therapeutic services as part of the contract bid made by Spectrum and their provision of regulated activities at HMP Forest Bank from April 2023? | HMPPS | |
| 4 | With the appointment of a new head of education, skills and work, as of January 2023, can the Director give assurance that a curriculum more aligned with prisoners’ needs will be implemented? | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 9 | 3 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 6 |
| Discipline, including adjudications, incentives scheme, sanctions | 2 | 3 |
| Equality | 5 | 1 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 7 | 0 |
| Food and kitchens | 6 | 4 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 57 | 47 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 16 | 15 |
| Miscellaneous, including complaints system | 67 | 29 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 7 | 9 |
| Property within this establishment | 28 | 32 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 14 | 7 |
| Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, re-categorisation | 1 | 1 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 19 | 36 |
| Total number of applications | 238 | 197 |
| Transfers | 0 | 4 |
Related inspections & investigations
9 Dec 2024
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 2
· Respect 3
· Activity 2
· Release 3
Other reports for Forest Bank
Report details
- Establishment
- Forest Bank
- Type
- Prison · Cat Category B
- Report year
- 2022
- Published
- 30 March 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Forest Bank
- Recommendations
- 4
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 2 — Concern
Population
| Operational capacity | 1,460 |
| Time out of cell | 6.5h/day |
Service providers
Healthcare
Sodexo Healthcare
Mental Health Healthcare
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust
Prison Operator
Sodexo