Source · IMB Annual Report
Wetherby
Year: 2022
Published: 2 Feb 2023
Type: Prison · Cat YOI
Population: 156
Recommendations: 9
Key concerns
Positive findings
HMYOI Wetherby faced significant challenges during the reporting year, including persistent staffing shortages which severely impacted the regime, leading to limited time out of cell, particularly in evenings. The Board noted concerning levels of violence, self-harm, and the continued problem of weapon creation. Additionally, there were unacceptable delays in transferring young people with complex mental health needs and significant evidence of racism. Despite these challenges, the Board commended positive staff-young person relationships, good physical healthcare provision, and welcome investments in the estate and engaging educational programs.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| ACCT cases opened | 190 | — |
| Prisoner assaults | 215 | — |
| Assaults on staff | 100 | — |
| Use of force | 1,179 | — |
| Drug finds | 82 | — |
Positive findings
HMYOI Wetherby maintains positive staff-young person relationships and provides good physical healthcare, commended by CQC. There's welcome investment in the estate, including in-cell showers and technology. Education offers successful practical courses, and notable initiatives support young people's activities and family contact, such as the Three Peaks Challenge and in-cell telephones. Reception management is efficient, and ACCT processes provide good support to young people.
Key concerns
Mental Health
Repeated
The continued chronic lack of secure mental health hospital beds resulting in lengthy delays for young people who require such provision.
Safety
Repeated
Violence reduction, both in the community and within the juvenile estate.
Staffing
Recruitment and retention of all staff is difficult, with many frustrated by misleading job descriptions and high turnover.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Time out of room has not significantly improved throughout the reporting year, remaining disappointingly limited, particularly in the evenings and at weekends.
Safety
Repeated
The number, the severity, consistency and intensity of acts of self-harm, particularly on Keppel unit, remain of huge concern.
Safety
Repeated
There has been no solution to the creation of weapons from anything to hand, and their use in assaults, sometimes causing serious injury, since last year’s report.
Substance Misuse
Significant increase in positive mandatory drug tests this year, despite substance misuse not being prevalent in previous years.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Delay in arranging and signing off on a new contract with the educational provider (Novus), contributing to low staff morale and high turnover of teaching personnel.
Equality/Diversity
Significant evidence of racism in Wetherby, with 32% of young people reporting racist abuse and 71% unhappy with complaint outcomes.
Healthcare
Unacceptable delays in routine dental appointments, at times up to 24 weeks.
Other
Lengthy delays in young people obtaining their property from reception due to the need for external X-ray screening and staff shortages.
Education/Purposeful Activity
Access to education whilst in segregation is not sufficient or appropriate, with a single dedicated teacher regardless of numbers.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Board would like to know what the long-term plans are for young female prisoners. | Ministry of Justice | |
| 1 | Recruitment and retention of officers is a serious problem. What are the short- and long-term plans to address this? | HMPPS | |
| 1 | What is being done to tackle the level of violent behaviour perpetrated by young people at Wetherby? | Governor / Director | |
| 2 | Can the Minister reassure the Board, and the wider society, that serious and violent crime remains a priority for the Government and other agencies? How will the outcomes of any initiatives be reviewed? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 2 | What, if anything, is being done to reverse this practice? (young people placed >50 miles from home) | HMPPS | |
| 2 | There has been much talk of Wetherby having its own X-ray machine. Is that likely to happen, and if so, when? | Governor / Director | |
| 3 | Why are assaults on prison staff not dealt with on a par with emergency service workers? | Ministry of Justice | |
| 3 | How do you plan to reintroduce them? (custody support plan sessions) | Governor / Director | |
| 4 | Who made this decision and why? (regarding EHCPs ending on entry to custody) | Ministry of Justice |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (including transfers) | 45 | 38 |
| Adjudication | 7 | 2 |
| Healthcare | 4 | 1 |
| Other | 19 | 12 |
| Property | 39 | 24 |
| Resolved on wing | 40 | 33 |
| Security | 4 | 3 |
| Staff care / conduct | 6 | 2 |
| Total | 164 | 115 |
Other reports for Wetherby
Report details
- Establishment
- Wetherby
- Type
- Prison · Cat YOI
- Report year
- 2022
- Published
- 2 February 2023
- Responsible body
- YOI Wetherby
- Recommendations
- 9
Population
| Population | 156 |
| Operational capacity | 336 |
| CNA (designed for) | 336 46% |
Service providers
Escort service
GEOAmey
GP services
Wetherby medical practice
Independent advocacy service
Barnardo’s
Learning and skills
Novus
Maintenance and repair
Amey
Mental health care
South West Yorkshire NHS Foundation Trust
Mentoring
In2Out
Primary care
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust
Substance misuse support
Young People’s Drug and Alcohol Support Services (YPDASS)