Independent Monitoring Boards annual report

Standford Hill

Report year 2021 Published 12 Oct 2021 Type Prison, category D, YOI Population 458 Responsible body HMP Standford Hill 2 recommendations

Original IMB report page ↗ Ministerial response, 12 Dec 2021 ↗ imb.org.uk ↗

The summary and positive findings below were written from the report by an AI model. The Board's own wording is in the report linked above.

Summary

Summary written by this site (AI-generated)

HMP/YOI Standford Hill maintained a well-run, humane prison with a strong emphasis on rehabilitation, despite significant challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Board commended staff dedication and positive prison culture, but raised concerns about healthcare provision following a death in custody, the lack of an internet room, and reliance on external kitchen facilities. The pandemic severely restricted regime activities and purposeful activity, impacting prisoner progression and wellbeing.

Positive findings

Summary written by this site (AI-generated)

HMP Standford Hill was found to be a very well-run prison with good morale among prisoners and staff, even amidst the pandemic. The strong emphasis on rehabilitation is credited with exceptionally low reoffending rates. Relations between staff and prisoners remained good, with the prison demonstrating sensitivity and inclusivity towards diverse prisoner needs. Healthcare staff are dedicated, and the internal complaints system functions effectively. The prison also maintains its estate well, with ongoing improvements like new accommodation pods and laundry equipment.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1Addressed to HMPPS
Recommendation 2Addressed to Governor / Director

All 2 recommendations

Key concerns

Key concern 1Healthcare
Key concern 2Healthcare
Key concern 3Resettlement/Release

All 6 key concerns

Recommendations 2 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.

Recommendation 1

Response: Partially accepted

Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Resettlement, Regime, Estate, Food

Recommendation (the Board's words)

The proposed expansion of Standford Hill is to be welcomed, particularly the provision of onsite kitchen facilities. We also believe that the effectiveness of the prison and its rehabilitation programme would be enhanced if an internet room could be created for prisoners to plan their futures and communicate with future employers. We believe that, with the creation of a kitchen, prison life would be enhanced by the provision of a dining room.

Government response (as published)

Regarding the proposed expansion of the prison, I am advised that the new kitchen and dining hall, with a capacity to hold up to 200 people, is expected to be completed in July 2022 and this will open new avenues for men to gain qualifications in catering. The introduction of an internet room has been discussed at length through the Open Prisons forum. However, due to security concerns, this cannot progress any further. An internet facility is available within the Old Mill Village for risk assessed men to conduct job searches for outside employment, prepare CVs and communicate with future employers.

Source text verified

Recommendation 2

Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Staffing, Education

Recommendation (the Board's words)

The last year has inevitably slowed the focus on instituting an NVQ qualification for staff working in the gardens, but this is an objective we believe should be pursued.

Source text verified

Key concerns 6 items

Key concerns were extracted from the report text by an AI model.

Key concern 1

Healthcare

Our main concern is over the death of Mr Rahman, the oversight by healthcare and whether such an incident could occur again. While we appreciate that prison management have to trust healthcare to supervise patients according to medical practice and protocols, the system clearly did not operate properly in this case and, though it is unclear whether this may have prevented his death, we believe he did not receive the requisite care following his discharge from hospital.

Key concern 2

Healthcare

The absence of 24/7 onsite healthcare cover, particularly at weekends, with officers performing welfare checks, which the Board remains concerned about despite prison management's satisfaction.

Source wording under review

Key concern 3

Resettlement/Release

The lack of an internet room for prisoners to plan their futures, prepare CVs, and maintain family links, which is crucial for successful resettlement.

Source wording under review

Key concern 4

Food/Catering

Standford Hill continues to have food brought from the kitchens at Swaleside, which is next door. Although there have, inevitably, been some issues with timing, there appear to have been fewer issues with menu choice, and the system has worked as well as possible given the circumstances. The proposed expansion of Standford Hill and the provision of its own kitchen and possibly a dining room should alleviate this on-going problem.

Key concern 5

Regime/Time Out of Cell

The severe impact of Covid-19 restrictions on purposeful activity, ROTL, education, and family visits, leading to prolonged inactivity, distress, and hindering progression and resettlement plans.

Source wording under review

Key concern 6

Healthcare

We still believe that the lack of soundproofing prevents discreet and confidential discussion when drugs are being dispensed, but our overall impression is that healthcare is effectively provided under the current regime.

Safety statistics

Incidents during the reporting year.

Indicator	This year	Previous
Deaths in custody	1	not recorded
Prisoner assaults	3	not recorded
Drug finds	33	not recorded

Population

Population	458
CNA (designed for)	464 (99% occupied)

Applications to the IMB

Category	Current	Previous
Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions	1	0
Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s)	1	not recorded
Discipline, including adjudications, IEP, sanctions	4	5
Equality	1	not recorded
Finance, including pay, private monies, spends	1	not recorded
Food and kitchens	1	1
Health, including physical, mental, social care	1	4
Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions	1	not recorded
Miscellaneous, including complaints system	1	not recorded
Property during transfer or in another establishment or location	9	not recorded
Property within this establishment	3	not recorded
Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell	1	5
Sentence management, including HDC, release on temporary licence, parole, release dates, recategorisation	10	not recorded
Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying	5	not recorded
Total number of applications	4	47
Transfers	1	not recorded

Report details

Establishment: Standford Hill
Type: Prison, category D, YOI
Report year: 2021
Published: 12 October 2021
Responsible body: HMP Standford Hill
Recommendations: 2
MoJ rating (2025/26): 4, Outstanding

Service providers

Service	Provider
Healthcare	Integrated Care 24
Social Care	Kent County Council Adult Social Services
Substance Misuse	The Forward Trust

Standford Hill

Summary

Positive findings

Recommendations

Key concerns

Recommendations 2 items

Recommendation 1

Recommendation 2

Key concerns 6 items

Key concern 1

Key concern 2

Key concern 3

Key concern 4

Key concern 5

Key concern 6

Safety statistics

Population

Applications to the IMB

Report details

Service providers

Related inspections and investigations

HMIP inspection, 8 Oct 2024

HMIP inspection, 2 Sep 2019

Stuart Cordner

David Willis

Trowbridge, Mark

Individual at Standford Hill

Individual at Standford Hill

Other reports for Standford Hill

2026

2025

2024

2023

2022

2020