Recommendations 13 items
Recommendations were extracted from the report by AI, and responses and their status from the ministerial response by AI. Each recommendation shows whether its wording has been checked against the report.
Response: Noted
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Other
Recommendation (the Board's words)
That the recommendations made in the Ministry of Justice’s White Paper, after consultation, are implemented and adequately resourced.
Government response (as published)
Although it was another difficult reporting period, it was encouraging to receive your comments about the prison’s management of the pandemic, the structured ‘pathway approach’ for learning and outside employment progression, and the continued emphasis on the equality agenda. I was also pleased to read about the installation of outside gym stations and the provision of an outdoor chess board resulting in prisoners representing England in an international online prisons championship.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Estate
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The IMB at Hollesley Bay recognises the considerable investment made in 2021. There was a residential unit demolished and this was replaced by ‘Containex units, all single-person units. Based upon this experience, the IMB would urge the Prison Service to move to a situation where all multiple-occupancy cells are removed and replaced with single person accommodation.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Regime
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The IMB welcomes the introduction of the more formal sequential learning approach adopted by the prison in 2021. This is beneficial to the prisoners and acts as a good motivational tool, which leads to ROTL being used in a more purposeful way.
Response: In progress
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Resettlement
Recommendation (the Board's words)
That particular attention is given to prisoners when they leave prison having access to suitable accommodation and employment opportunities.
Government response (as published)
The Ministry of Justice Property Directorate, together with their service provider Government Facilities Services Limited, continue to maintain all services across the establishment to ensure prisoners are housed in suitable and decent accommodation. For the year 2021-2022 a total of £284,000 was spent on general maintenance. A significant amount of work has been carried out to improve both street and security lighting including an upgrade to LED systems. New heating boilers were recently installed in both the workshop block and Cosford Unit. A temporary kitchen has been installed to address a number of issues with the existing facility while a scheme is worked on for a new permanent facility. A project is underway to address a number of roof repairs.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Estate
Recommendation (the Board's words)
That further capital investment is made into the open prison estate to allow the buildings and facilities to be improved and the backlog of maintenance requirements to be tackled in a programmed way – failing heating systems, leaking roofs, inadequate catering facilities, etc, as well as funding additional security measures, enhanced CCTV and improved security lighting.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Resettlement
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The publication of a more comprehensive induction booklet is welcomed; not only does it inform the prisoners from other sending prisons what they can expect from Hollesley Bay, it provides a structured approach to learning which enables staff to better prepare prisoners in terms of their ‘employability’ and what to expect from life outside of prison. Considering this in slightly greater depth, outside society will have changed considerably for many prisoners during their time inside; none more so than in the of use of the internet. To this end the IMB would ask the Governor to consider introducing ways of using IT, and mobile phones in particular, that are safe and improve family contact and may well have other have other benefits as well.
Response: In progress
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Mental Health
Recommendation (the Board's words)
That effective support for mental health issues is developed within prisons and after leaving should they still be required.
Government response (as published)
To improve prisoners’ access to employment on release HMPPS’ New Futures Network (NFN) is introducing new initiatives to all resettlement prisons in England and Wales, including HMP Hollesley Bay. This includes recruiting a Prison Employment Lead, who will work with the prisoners ahead of their release to support them to apply for job opportunities sourced by NFN. The Prison Employment Lead will be aided by an Identification Documents and Banking Administrator who will ensure all prisoners have access to the necessary requirements to apply for jobs. Prisons are also establishing Employment Hubs, which are a ‘job centre within a prison’ and will be a one-stop shop for prisoners to get information about jobs and receive help applying for them. Employment Advisory Boards are being established (run by local employers) and will advise the prison on the local labour market and skills needed.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Other
Recommendation (the Board's words)
To allow Governors of prisons greater budgetary flexibility to meet the priorities of their prison.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Resettlement
Recommendation (the Board's words)
Recognising that there are difficulties in developing an ‘employers forum’ for Hollesley Bay (since many of the prisoners’ home addresses will be considerable distances away) the prison should develop a two-stage approach towards prisoner employability whereby basic skills or behaviours are brought up to scratch and other labour market considerations are developed to give prisoners the best chance of employment once their sentences are completed, e.g. in street works, warehousing, construction.
Response: Accepted
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Other
Recommendation (the Board's words)
That further consideration is given to the indeterminate sentences for public protection (IPP) regime to eradicate many of the injustices that are all too common in the system.
Government response (as published)
A significant amount of work has been carried out to improve both street and security lighting including an upgrade to LED systems.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Safety
Recommendation (the Board's words)
That the efforts being put into improving the site security are continued.
Response: Partially accepted
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Staffing
Recommendation (the Board's words)
That consideration is given to the introduction of the key worker system in open prisons.
Government response (as published)
Given the focus on resettlement and reintegration into the community, male open prisons are not resourced to deliver key work. However, all men in the open estate will receive supervision from their Prison Offender Manager and Governors have continued to deliver a personal officer scheme or other support such as peer led schemes for prisoners. As part of HMPPS’ evaluation programme of Offender Management in Custody delivery, some small-scale research will be conducted within the male closed estate over the next six months and we will consider any learning about the benefits of key work.
Response: In progress
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Other
Recommendation (the Board's words)
That the Minister, jointly with the IMB Secretariat, explore ways of broadening the numerical strength and composition of local IMBs so that they become more representative of the UK’s population as a whole and the profile of our current prisoner population.
Government response (as published)
The composition of IMB Boards, including recruitment, is an area which has been identified by the IMB Secretariat and Management Board as being key in moving forward for the organisation. The IMB Secretariat has been trialling initiatives such as collaborative recruitment to increase numbers and the diversity of applicants. This will feed into lessons learnt which will help to form the basis of a future recruitment strategy.