Featherstone

Response
As Minister of State for Justice, I am hugely sympathetic to the needs at HMP Featherstone, and elsewhere across the estate. As the Board is aware, it has not been a simple task to improve the prison fabric and conditions, however, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) continues to address matters. Major works have been completed on several roofs around the establishment this includes the segregation area. The two cells with continual maintenance problems have been put back into operation (following the completion of work to replace the leaking roof). The drain on House Unit 3 has been relined and all repairs completed. Likewise, the lift used by prisoners has recently been installed and is providing better mobility access. Additionally, the motor chair lift located at the end of the secure corridor stairwell of House Units 3 and 4 is in the process of being replaced. The outdated heating system remains an ongoing maintenance task and is closely being monitored owing to the ageing assets and infrastructure. Prioritising the potential projects to develop the capital maintenance programme has been a very challenging task, as despite an uplift of funding, there are still many very deserving projects that it wasn’t possible to provide funding for. In particular, the expansion programme, where a decision was made in January 2022 not to proceed any further. The Governor can provide the Board with more detailed information. Regarding decency issues, the suspension of the Clean, Rehabilitative, Enabling, and Decent (CRED) programme during the height of Covid -19 was considered necessary to reduce transmission of the virus through contact. However, you will be pleased to hear that in March 2022 the CRED working party reconvened for an expected duration of six months supervised by Amey. Additionally, a Living Conditions Action Plan is being worked on to improve decency outcomes.

Response
NHS England and NHS Improvement are responsible for the commissioning, funding and contractual arrangements for the pharmacy service. Issues relating to the transfer of the pharmacy contract from Lloyds to Practice Plus Group (PPG) in July 2021 are now resolved and the staffing complement of the Pharmacy team has increased. It was unfortunate that despite a thorough mobilisation process being completed by all parties (West Midlands Health and Justice Commissioners, Lloyds Pharmacy and PPG) IT issues still occurred. Like the Board, NHS England and NHS Improvement commends the Healthcare team at HMP Featherstone for working through a challenging and testing period. The new Pharmacy Service (and its updated IT system) is now embedded into the main prison healthcare service contract (as is standard for other prisons) and will only change in the future when procurement of the healthcare service as a whole is required.

Response
As the Board are aware, during the Covid-19 pandemic all establishments are required to follow the transfer risk assessment process as set out in the HMPPS Compartmentalisation and Cohorting guidance when managing transfers. To date, all prisoners on inter prison transfer have been offered a Covid-19 test. The test is voluntary, and the transfer can still go ahead if testing is declined. However, the Person Escort Record must indicate whether the person was tested prior to transfer and the test result (positive/ negative/ void / declined). At present, all new receptions into establishments (including following transfers) are offered a Covid -19 test on arrival. Whether a prisoner is required to reverse cohort on reception at the receiving site is dependent on the RAG (Red-Amber-Green) rating of the sending site they came from (in accordance with HMPPS Heatmap) and whether they consented to being tested. If the sending establishment is rated Green and the person agrees to test then there is no requirement to reside at the Reverse Cohorting Unit (RCU), for Red/Amber ratings and/or they refuse to test then they must stay on the RCU in line with guidance to ensure that they are not carrying the virus before mixing with the wider population. Different searching arrangements will exist across the prison estate depending on the circumstances of the search and the type of prison concerned. In most cases, governors are required to carry out a risk assessment to determine the level of search required in various situations, considering local security concerns and needs. In addition, there are searching requirements to which all prisons must adhere to, and in accordance with current policy on transferring to another prison and all other discharges apart from on final discharge and discharge for Release on Temporary Licence, all male prisoners must be full-searched by officers at the sending prison. If contraband has been internally concealed and identified on the X-ray body scanner at the receiving prison it is likely this is because the transferring prison does not have access to a body scanner. The Governor welcomes the introduction of Enhanced Gate Security noting this a positive addition to reduce the supply of illicit items entering the prison. No trends have been identified with any sending prison.

Response
Following a pause in the development of the new Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework due to Covid-19, a meeting with IMB representatives took place in August 2020. The feedback received from those members was considered alongside the comments received from other stakeholders, and comments from subsequent operational engagement. HMPPS circulated the draft Framework with internal and external stakeholders, including the IMB Secretariat and the IMB representatives previously consulted. In addition, further operational engagement was necessary following that consultation. The feedback received has been considered and, where appropriate, adjustments have been made. The Framework aims to ensure that property is handled with efficiency, care and respect and that staff and prisoners are clear on the arrangements in place. It provides clear requirements and strengthens guidance on known problem areas. This includes providing stronger guidance to ensure volumetric control limits are respected, so that prisoners do not build up excessive amounts of property. The Framework is currently going through clearance and it is now anticipated to be published this Summer. Due to cell clearance inconsistences at HMP Featherstone, a full review was conducted, and a new process issued for staff. Briefings have taken place with those responsible for implementing the new process namely with Residential Officers, Supervising Officers and Custodial Managers. The process will be monitored monthly between the Residence and Safety functions to ensure it is running effectively.

Response
Some progress has been made but the Board still feels that all these areas need to be tightened up.