Hollesley Bay

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’.

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.

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’.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.