Elmley

Response
I understand the Board’s concern about prisoners being confined to cells for long periods during the Covid-19 pandemic. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) took the difficult decision to introduce restricted regimes at the start of the pandemic to safeguard the wellbeing of prisoners and staff. The National Framework for Prison Regimes and Services set out the strategy for managing Covid-19 in prisons, the necessary level of controls and the recovery approach. HMPPS has continued to work closely with public health authorities to ensure the recovery in prisons is based on the best scientific advice available. In recent months all prisons were returned to a baseline of Stage 3 of the National Framework due to the Omicron variant threat, however, as community restrictions have ended, HMPPS are supporting prisons to remove Covid-19 controls and progress their regimes to help rehabilitate and reduce reoffending. This will allow social distancing to be removed, provide increased use of workshops and other off wing activities and a higher number of social visits. This progression is being done at a careful pace to ensure the safety, mental health and wellbeing of prisoners and staff remains a priority and prisons are ready. Prisoners also continue to be able to access the Samaritans phone service and HMPPS is working with the Samaritans to ensure that the Listener peer support scheme continues to function effectively within prisons to support their mental health. Locally, HMP Elmley has continued to work in line with the national framework, balancing the risks posed by Covid-19 with protecting prisoners’ mental health and wellbeing by maximising time out of cell wherever possible and engaging with partners to implement in-cell activities. The prison has progressed with regime recovery at the earliest opportunity, while working closely with the UK Health Security Agency and trades unions and as the progression gateway is now open for Stage 1, HMP Elmley will be submitting their application shortly.

Response
The staffing challenges at HMP Elmley are recognised, as well as at HMP Swaleside another prison in the local area. Both establishments have a high turnover of Prison Officers leaving at a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult for MoJ Resourcing to attract new Prison Officers for these establishments and despite a market supplement already being paid to improve recruitment and retention. However, Prison Officer roles are well advertised and other attraction methods are being used which brings in a steady stream of new applicants although not in sufficiently large numbers. An additional element has therefore been added to the recruitment process to follow up with candidates who show an interest but do not complete their application. Whilst recruitment for Prison Officers is undertaken nationally, HMP Elmley has developed a Staff Retention Strategy for 2022 which includes the Governor meeting all new staff during their first week and again after three months, monthly listen to improve sessions with the Governor and Deputy Governor and the prison is also reviewing the local staff reward and recognition procedures. Whilst essential health care is being delivered, NHS England and Improvement recognises the critical healthcare staffing levels at HMP Elmley. Contributing factors have been identified which include the geographical location of the prison, the proximity to London which offers enhanced salaries, a national shortage of clinical staff and staff absences due to the pandemic and the forthcoming change to the lead provider. Commissioners have been working closely with the current and new providers to mitigate risks to ensure safe delivery of essential health care. In addition to mitigation actions an intensive recruitment campaign is underway with staffing levels set to improve when the new provider contract starts from 1 April 2022.

Response
Since 2017 the responsibility for budgets have been devolved to Governors who have the authority to determine how they spend the overall non-pay budget for their prison. An element which makes up the non-pay budget is food and in the financial year 2020-21 this was calculated by HMPPS on a formula of £2.12 per prisoner per day. However, Governors can ultimately use their discretion to determine how much is specifically allocated for food from within their overall budget based on the needs of the local population. The last food budget set by HMPPS was at £2.02 in 2012. The Board can be assured that Prison Rules require that prisoners are provided with three meals a day that are varied and nutritious and that meet the religious, cultural and medical needs of all. HMPPS also continues to work closely with the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities following government guidelines on eating healthy. Locally, HMP Elmley will be undertaking a review of the overall prison budget to establish whether greater funding can be set aside for food. A recent prisoner food survey was undertaken and this is enabling a menu review in consultation with prisoners via the prison council. Improvements will be driven by an action plan which will be discussed at the Elmley Prison Council meeting. In addition, a new HMP Elmley Senior Leadership Team strategy of visibility has been promoted that will ensure senior managers are present at mealtimes, this includes senior managers visiting hotplate areas to check the temperature and conditions and to oversee the serving of the evening meal. Staff have also been briefed about the management of the hot plate to ensure meals are served in a safe and fair manner.

Response
The Board’s concern is recognised and the Prison Retail contract is currently being re-tendered, with the new contract going live on 1 August 2022. The re-tender process allows HMPPS to review the current working practices and introduce a more robust operation to hold the supplier to account when required. It will make processes such as ordering, returns and complaint escalation more efficient and intuitive using a supplier’s digital solution with the overall service being adaptive to future change. The new canteen service will be delivered by a single supplier, who will be required to demonstrate experience and provide a service which delivers capability, capacity and value for money to the expected standards of service and contract performance.