East Sutton Park

Response
I understand the Board’s continued concerns that suitable women should be progressed from closed conditions to HMP East Sutton Park with sufficient time left to serve to allow them to benefit from the resettlement opportunities that are available. As my predecessors have advised on several occasions there are complex and wide-ranging issues involved in transfers and allocation decisions which must reflect both the specific needs and circumstances of the individual, whilst balancing this alongside keeping capacity within the women’s estate in the right places. It remains the case that Prison Offender Managers (POMs) continue to determine the point at which a woman should be moved based on their individual circumstances and following the implementation of Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) in the Women’s Estate in April 2021, women with the most complexity of need will receive an enhanced offender management service, with additional engagement time from their POM. The OMiC model that has been developed for women recognises the different challenges and opportunities of working with women and both Key Work and case management time will be allocated to women based on their level of need in addition to their risk of harm. Following the National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies unifying to become the Probation Service in June 2021, responsibility for the delivery of immediate resettlement needs and pre-release services have moved to the Regional Probation Directors with Commissioned Rehabilitative Service providers delivering key resettlement interventions. In all instances the Probation Service provides rehabilitative services for women wherever they are held and released. Prison Officers are also continuing to work with all women to build on the excellent relationships they have already developed, and all staff are working together to share information in order to support and manage women effectively towards their resettlement. It is also acknowledged that where women can serve a longer period of time at HMP East Sutton Park there are greater resettlement benefits available and it is pleasing that the Board recognise there has been some improvement in this area. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Population Management Unit seeks to ensure that prisoners who have been accepted for transfer are moved as soon as is practical, but it should be recognised that throughout the Covid-19 pandemic transfers have at times been impacted due to national restrictions in order to keep women safe and reduce the spread of the virus.

Response
I understand the Board’s continued concerns that suitable women should be progressed from closed conditions to HMP East Sutton Park with sufficient time left to serve to allow them to benefit from the resettlement opportunities that are available. As my predecessors have advised on several occasions there are complex and wide-ranging issues involved in transfers and allocation decisions which must reflect both the specific needs and circumstances of the individual, whilst balancing this alongside keeping capacity within the women’s estate in the right places. It remains the case that Prison Offender Managers (POMs) continue to determine the point at which a woman should be moved based on their individual circumstances and following the implementation of Offender Management in Custody (OMiC) in the Women’s Estate in April 2021, women with the most complexity of need will receive an enhanced offender management service, with additional engagement time from their POM. The OMiC model that has been developed for women recognises the different challenges and opportunities of working with women and both Key Work and case management time will be allocated to women based on their level of need in addition to their risk of harm. Following the National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Companies unifying to become the Probation Service in June 2021, responsibility for the delivery of immediate resettlement needs and pre-release services have moved to the Regional Probation Directors with Commissioned Rehabilitative Service providers delivering key resettlement interventions. In all instances the Probation Service provides rehabilitative services for women wherever they are held and released. Prison Officers are also continuing to work with all women to build on the excellent relationships they have already developed, and all staff are working together to share information in order to support and manage women effectively towards their resettlement. It is also acknowledged that where women can serve a longer period of time at HMP East Sutton Park there are greater resettlement benefits available and it is pleasing that the Board recognise there has been some improvement in this area. HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) Population Management Unit seeks to ensure that prisoners who have been accepted for transfer are moved as soon as is practical, but it should be recognised that throughout the Covid-19 pandemic transfers have at times been impacted due to national restrictions in order to keep women safe and reduce the spread of the virus.

Response
The Modular Unit Decommissioning and Replacement (MUD&R) Project was set up last year to replace capacity lost owing to Modular Temporary and Ready to Use Units that had to be decommissioned. Whilst HMP East Sutton Park did not have any modular units to close, the site was considered for further temporary accommodation and the prison made a request for an additional 24 pod places to be created. Following review, MUD&R project was unable to deliver these requested places, however, HMPPS is considering options to address the condition of the existing accommodation at the site through the maintenance budget and will be making decisions in due course. Further temporary accommodation at HMP East Sutton Park is also being considered as part of the Rapid Deployment Cells project, however no final decisions have been made on the locations and number of temporary units to be deployed across the prison estate. HMPPS Prison Supply Directorate in Headquarters are working with Prison Group Directors, Governors and other stakeholders at priority sites to finalise a deployment site list. The Governor will continue to keep the Board informed of progress during monthly meetings.