Source · IMB Annual Report
Hollesley Bay
Year: 2020
Published: 29 Apr 2021
Type: Prison · Cat Open, Category D, YOI
Recommendations: 5
Key concerns
Positive findings
Hollesley Bay, an open Category D YOI, navigated 2020 amid significant COVID-19 challenges, which impacted purposeful activity, education, and healthcare provision. The Board commended the prison's leadership and staff for their response to the pandemic and for maintaining a safe and humane environment. Key areas for development include improving the physical estate, enhancing training and education, and implementing a more systematic approach to prisoner development.
Safety statistics
| Indicator | This year | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths in custody | 0 | — |
| Self-harm incidents | 1 | 2 |
| ACCT cases opened | 20 | 15 |
| Prisoner assaults | 2 | 3 |
| Assaults on staff | 5 | 4 |
| Use of force | 12 | 36 |
| Drug finds | 116 | 82 |
Positive findings
The Board welcomed the prison's new strategy and its clear communication of values. Hollesley Bay is considered a safe place where prisoners are treated fairly, humanely, and with dignity. The Board commended the healthcare team for their continued provision of services during the pandemic and noted the effective use of Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) for rehabilitation. Positive developments include increased external employment opportunities and good relationships between the IMB and prison staff.
Key concerns
Resettlement/Release
The Board recognises and fully supports the increased efforts being put into securing training and employment opportunities for prisoners within the local community and in the ‘workshop’ environment in the prison itself. However, it is also recognised that a more systematic approach towards individual prisoner development (with initial prisoner assessment followed up with an actively monitored action plan) would be enormously beneficial to the prisoners themselves and to those who provide the services. It would lead to a greater focus on ‘what works and what matters’.
Education/Purposeful Activity
On a national scale, the recommendations of the review of education provision in the UK’s prisons, undertaken by Dame Sally Coates over five years ago, should be revisited, with any good practice identified from a prison within the UK promoted and considered for adoption across the entire Prison Service. In addition, of particular note during the COVID-19 pandemic, is recommendation 13 of that report, that: ‘Governors should be free to design a framework of incentives that encourage attendance and progression in education’.
Estate/Conditions
that a comprehensive review is undertaken of the physical condition of HMP Hollesley Bay, and that a capital programme is established for both the refurbishment and, where necessary, the replacement of the existing facilities
Education/Purposeful Activity
that courses and educational opportunities offered within prisons are more varied and reflect the vacancies within the job markets more accurately, and that funding is made available to assist prisoners to become suitably qualified via courses that traditionally have been excluded because they are more expensive to run. While it is recognised there has been significant progress made in increasing the number of opportunities for work placements outside the prison, there is an underlying question as to whether the quality of educational and training provision at Hollesley Bay could be enhanced, thereby improving prisoners’ chances of employment upon release.
Food/Catering
Repeated
The Board considers that the food at the prison, especially lunch, consisting of soup, a baguette and a small packet of crisps, is just about adequate but little more. This was reported last year and in the previous year.
Healthcare
Dentistry, ophthalmic and podiatry care has adhered to the COVID-19 guidelines issued by Public Health England, which has inevitably resulted in a lesser service than previously offered. To give an indication of the size of this backlog, there were no treatments carried out for the period April to June; this resumed in July, August and September, when 44 emergency appointments were carried out, and in the final quarter of 2020 (October, November and December) there were 181 booked appointments
Safety
The Listener scheme was maintained throughout the year but saw the number of trained Listeners fall to just three, all living in the same residential block. The reduction occurred because of prisoners leaving the prison and the difficulties in recruiting replacements – again, due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
Regime/Time Out of Cell
A residents (prisoners) council was introduced in 2019 and this continues to offer a constructive contribution towards prison life. As with many prison activities, the council was less effective during 2020.
Recommendations
| # | Recommendation | Addressee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
The Board recognises and fully supports the increased efforts being put into securing training and employment opportunities for prisoners within the local community and in the ‘workshop’ environment in the prison itself. However, it is also recognised that a more systematic approach towards individual prisoner development (with initial prisoner assessment followed up with an actively monitored action plan) would be enormously beneficial to the prisoners themselves and to those who provide the services. It would lead to a greater focus on ‘what works and what matters’.
Response
It is encouraging to note that the Board supports the increased efforts being put into securing training and employment opportunities. We agree that a systematic approach to capture individual prisoner development is beneficial. Such systems have been available across the estate for a long period of time but have tended to be local initiatives. A new Digital Personal Learning Plan (PLP) has been launched that will allow learners and staff to track their learning journey through their custodial sentence and out through the gate. This will provide a consistent national plan for capturing and reviewing prisoner development and progress. HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay was the first prison to produce a PLP in the agreed national format in February 2021. The Senior Contract Manager is working with both the Prison Education Framework and Information and Guidance providers to ensure that once digital PLPs are created they are kept ‘live’ through continuous review and collaboration between all partners. Progress in this area has, however, been temporarily impacted by Covid-19 restrictions. |
Other | In progress |
| 2 |
On a national scale, the recommendations of the review of education provision in the UK’s prisons, undertaken by Dame Sally Coates over five years ago, should be revisited, with any good practice identified from a prison within the UK promoted and considered for adoption across the entire Prison Service. In addition, of particular note during the COVID-19 pandemic, is recommendation 13 of that report, that: ‘Governors should be free to design a framework of incentives that encourage attendance and progression in education’.
Response
Improving prison education is our key focus and we have committed to create a Prisoner Education Service (PES) focused on work-based training and skills. The aim of the PES is to increase the number of prisoners who get and keep jobs. The ability to improve a prisoners’ functional, vocational and life-skills is key to supporting wider rehabilitation and reducing reoffending on release. We want prisoners to benefit from an inclusive Service which combines the best of further and higher education with bespoke careers guidance, meaningful work opportunities and specialist support for individuals with additional needs. We are working to develop this new service building on reforms made since the Coates review in 2016 and the Education and Employment Strategy (published in 2018) which included devolving education budgets to local governors from April 2019. Following the changes introduced in April 2019, prison Governors are already free to design a framework of incentives that encourage attendance and progression into education. |
Other | Implemented |
| 3 |
that a comprehensive review is undertaken of the physical condition of HMP Hollesley Bay, and that a capital programme is established for both the refurbishment and, where necessary, the replacement of the existing facilities
Response
The physical condition of the estate at HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay has been subject to an assessment which included all mechanical and electrical assets. This survey was undertaken as part of the Estate wide asset capture programme that took place in 2020. A condition survey that will further assess critical mechanical and electrical assets, along with making an informed condition assessment of the building fabric, is planned to take place between May and July 2021. Results from the 2020 survey and those from the assessment planned for 2021 will be collated and fed into forward maintenance plans and funding requests according to the risk presented. Since Minister Frazer’s response to the Board of 14 October 2020 a number of improvements have been made at the site, including the completion of the fire improvements scheme. This project has improved the building’s fire safety measures and assets installed include, modern fire detection systems, new fire doors and emergency lighting improvements in some buildings. The site has also been subject to the construction of a temporary kitchen facility that when complete will see the current dilapidated kitchen taken offline. Mechanical infrastructure improvements are currently being concluded to one of the larger boiler house facilities at the site with replacement boilers and pipework included in the scope of works. In addition to this, fuel installations servicing the gymnasium are currently being replaced. Further to the more significant works mentioned above, localised flooring repairs and lighting upgrades have taken place to improve internal conditions. Works being planned and considered for 2021 include the demolition of some expired temporary accommodation and the mobilisation of the temporary kitchen. This will leave the existing facility free to be refurbished/replaced in future years, however, this will be subject to funding from the HMPPS capital investment programme. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 4 |
that courses and educational opportunities offered within prisons are more varied and reflect the vacancies within the job markets more accurately, and that funding is made available to assist prisoners to become suitably qualified via courses that traditionally have been excluded because they are more expensive to run.
Response
Further to Minister Frazer’s response to the Board last year, a number of courses are planned to be delivered using the Dynamic Purchasing System which allows the Governor to commission provision that reflects any changes in the regional job market. These courses include Barbering, a roofing course and Railway Maintenance. Covid-19 restrictions limited the prisons ability to expand its external work placements, but this is now returning to pre-pandemic levels and there are a number of employers wishing to engage with the prison. HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay is also linking in with New Futures Network to provide employment opportunities for prisoners whilst in custody and upon release. |
HMPPS | In progress |
| 5 |
While it is recognised there has been significant progress made in increasing the number of opportunities for work placements outside the prison, there is an underlying question as to whether the quality of educational and training provision at Hollesley Bay could be enhanced, thereby improving prisoners’ chances of employment upon release.
Response
Improving prison education is our key focus and we have committed to create a Prisoner Education Service (PES) focused on work-based training and skills. The aim of the PES is to increase the number of prisoners who get and keep jobs. The ability to improve a prisoners’ functional, vocational and life-skills is key to supporting wider rehabilitation and reducing reoffending on release. We want prisoners to benefit from an inclusive Service which combines the best of further and higher education with bespoke careers guidance, meaningful work opportunities and specialist support for individuals with additional needs. We are working to develop this new service building on reforms made since the Coates review in 2016 and the Education and Employment Strategy (published in 2018) which included devolving education budgets to local governors from April 2019. Further to Minister Frazer’s response to the Board last year, a number of courses are planned to be delivered using the Dynamic Purchasing System which allows the Governor to commission provision that reflects any changes in the regional job market. These courses include Barbering, a roofing course and Railway Maintenance. Covid-19 restrictions limited the prisons ability to expand its external work placements, but this is now returning to pre-pandemic levels and there are a number of employers wishing to engage with the prison. HMP/YOI Hollesley Bay is also linking in with New Futures Network to provide employment opportunities for prisoners whilst in custody and upon release. |
Governor / Director | In progress |
Applications to the IMB
| Category | Current | Previous |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation, including laundry, clothing, ablutions | 0 | 3 |
| Canteen, facility list, catalogue(s) | 0 | 0 |
| Discipline including adjudications, IEP, sanctions | 0 | 0 |
| Equality | 1 | 1 |
| Finance, including pay, private monies, spends | 0 | 0 |
| Food and kitchens | 1 | 1 |
| Health, including physical, mental, social care | 5 | 8 |
| Letters, visits, telephones, public protection restrictions | 0 | 1 |
| Property during transfer or in another establishment or location | 2 | 1 |
| Property within this establishment | 0 | 4 |
| Purposeful activity, including education, work, training, library, regime, time out of cell | 7 | 5 |
| Sentence management including home detention curfew, ROTL, parole, release dates, recategorisation | 5 | 5 |
| Staff/prisoner concerns, including bullying | 1 | 0 |
| Transfers | 1 | 5 |
Related inspections & investigations
3 Apr 2024
HMIP · Unannounced
Safety 4
· Respect 4
· Activity 3
· Release 4
Other reports for Hollesley Bay
Report details
- Establishment
- Hollesley Bay
- Type
- Prison · Cat Open, Category D, YOI
- Report year
- 2020
- Published
- 29 April 2021
- Responsible body
- HMP Hollesley Bay
- Recommendations
- 5
- MoJ rating (2024/25)
- 3 — Good
Population
| Operational capacity | 485 |
Service providers
Cafe/Barn project partner
Combat2Coffee
Drug and alcohol services
Phoenix Futures
Education
People Plus
Facility Services/Employment
Gov Facility Services Limited (GFSL)
GP services
Leiston Surgery
Packaging workshop partner
Thomas Ridley
Workshop partner
New Futures Network