Source · IMB Annual Report
Drake Hall
Year: 2022
Published: 28 Mar 2023
Type: Prison · Cat Women's Closed YOI
Population: 275
Recommendations: 6
Key concerns
Positive findings
Drake Hall generally provides a safe and humane environment, with commendable staff efforts and good healthcare provision. Key concerns persist regarding the unfit condition of two accommodation units, persistent issues with lost property on transfer, and challenges in education provision post-pandemic. The Board also highlights the difficulty in preparing women transferred close to their release dates for resettlement and issues with mental health staffing and low reporting of discrimination incidents.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | 1 |
| Self-harm incidents | 180 | 278 |
| ACCT cases opened | 147 | 107 |
| Prisoner assaults | 33 | 28 |
| Assaults on staff | 7 | 3 |
| Use of force | 63 | 16 |
| Drug finds | 94 | — |
Positive findings
Drake Hall continues to provide a safe, secure, and humane environment for women, with staff efforts highly commended for their commitment and flexibility, particularly during Covid outbreaks. Healthcare provision is strong, with excellent management of outbreaks and notable initiatives in perinatal care and menopause support. Self-harm rates are low due to proactive safer custody interventions. Recruitment for operational staff met its target, and the chaplaincy provides highly valued pastoral support. Efforts in drug and alcohol rehabilitation are well-controlled, and external work placements are slowly recovering. The library has also maintained and developed its services, improving book lending and literacy initiatives.
Key concerns
Estate/Conditions
Repeated
The Board again draws attention to the condition of Richmond and Plymouth houses. They are not fit for purpose. The provision of new accommodation is long overdue. Despite a major capital scheme to develop the site at Drake Hall, no provision is in place to replace these units.
Other
Repeated
Delayed or lost property on transfer remains a significant problem and causes unnecessary distress to women. It is a systemic issue that requires action across the prison service.
Resettlement/Release
Repeated
Due to operational pressure, increasing numbers of women continue to be transferred shortly before their release date. Undertaking work to prepare such women for release is then impossible.
Resettlement/Release
Resettlement services operate in an increasingly demanding environment where policy changes have impacted differently in different areas served by the provision. The IMB looks forward to seeing evidence of the development of a more joined up approach to services provided to women as they leave prison.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Since the pandemic, the provision of education for the women has been challenging. The Board looks forward to the development of an approach to the provision of education in which all parties work together to develop a provision which underpins sentence planning and supports reductions in reoffending while being acceptable to the women so that their take up, involvement and enthusiasm are maximised.
Equality/Diversity
The Board is concerned that women do not feel comfortable submitting DIRFs; this maybe because some recipients of racist language aren’t bothered by it or maybe it is to do with low levels of literacy and poor understanding of English so they cannot put in DIRFs. Alternatively, it could be that they lack confidence in the system.
Substance Misuse
The main concern at this time is the passing on of prescription medicines and unless this problem is better controlled through improved risk assessments and medication reviews, it could result in harm to a woman who takes a drug that is not prescribed for her.
Mental Health
There is an ongoing issue regarding the inability to recruit a trainee psychologist on site due to the absence of on-site supervision from a consultant psychologist. This appears to be an unrealistic expectation that this post will remain unfilled and this will impact on the wellbeing of the women.
Equality/Diversity
The environment at Drake Hall is not conducive to supporting women who need accommodation with a separate bathroom facility specifically adapted for a disabled person and on one occasion a woman transferred from another establishment had to be returned as her level of need could not be accommodated at Drake Hall.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Board again draws attention to the condition of Richmond and Plymouth houses. They are not fit for purpose. The provision of new accommodation is long overdue. Despite a major capital scheme to develop the site at Drake Hall, no provision is in place to replace these units (see section 5.1). Repeated | Other | |
| 2 | Delayed or lost property on transfer remains a significant problem and causes unnecessary distress to women. It is a systemic issue that requires action across the prison service (see section 5.8). Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 3 | Due to operational pressure, increasing numbers of women continue to be transferred shortly before their release date. Undertaking work to prepare such women for release is then impossible (see section 7.3). Repeated | HMPPS | |
| 4 | Resettlement services operate in an increasingly demanding environment where policy changes have impacted differently in different areas served by the provision. The IMB looks forward to seeing evidence of the development of a more joined up approach to services provided to women as they leave prison (see section 7.5). | HMPPS | |
| 5 | During the reporting period, the Board has noted an increasing number of applications relating to the issue of property. The Board appreciates that this matter is being given increasing focus, but it is important it improves given the impact it has on the women’s wellbeing (see section 5.8). Repeated | Governor / Director | |
| 6 | Since the pandemic, the provision of education for the women has been challenging. The Board looks forward to the development of an approach to the provision of education in which all parties work together to develop a provision which underpins sentence planning and supports reductions in reoffending while being acceptable to the women so that their take up, involvement and enthusiasm are maximised (see section 7.1). | Governor / Director |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 |
| Catering | 0 | 1 |
| Discipline | 1 | 0 |
| Discrimination (inc. race, religion, disability) | 4 | 2 |
| Drugs and Alcohol | 1 | 0 |
| Healthcare | 19 | 7 |
| Other establishments | 13 | 11 |
| Property | 27 | 19 |
| Routines | 11 | 9 |
| Segregation | 2 | 2 |
| Staff | 2 | 1 |
| Transfers | 6 | 8 |
| Visits | 17 | 20 |
| Work, vocational training, education | 1 | 0 |
Related inspections & investigations
Other reports for Drake Hall
Report details
- Establishment
- Drake Hall
- Type
- Prison · Cat Women's Closed YOI
- Report year
- 2022
- Published
- 28 March 2023
- Responsible body
- HMP Drake Hall
- Recommendations
- 6
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Population | 275 |
| Operational capacity | 340 |
Service providers
Education
People Plus
Healthcare
Practice Plus Group
Mental Health
Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust