Full Sutton

Response
I appreciate the Board carrying forward their concern about the provision of work and education for people in prison. Clearly the last 12 months has not seen any normal regime delivery for education or workshops whilst Covid-19 restrictions were in place and many regime elements will remain suspended (including all classroom-based education) across the adult prison estate until health advice and/or our own assessment of future risk tells us that it is safe to resume them. Prior to the pandemic HMP Full Sutton was very clear how the curriculum would respond to recommendations made by HM Inspector of Prisons, including the new pay and allocations policy mentioned in my predecessor’s letter of 10 August 2020 in response to the Boards previous annual report. Although the robust plan of improvements for work and education was unable to commence, planning has continued in close partnership with the Education provider, in order to restart the regime in line with Covid-19 recovery procedures. The new curriculum, with additional qualifications and the measuring of individual progress, will improve the quality of Education, Skills and Work. HMP Full Sutton’s ability to continue the DHL service for prisons during the pandemic has been much appreciated nationally, and when workshop regime is permitted the prison will begin to reopen meaningful workplaces, including the long-awaited woodwork workshop. It is also encouraging that when the new commissioned regime was delivered from September 2020, albeit in a Covid-restricted outreach learning model, considerable effort was made to help support those in prison to engage and succeed. It is accepted that the achievements are at this point non-accredited, but the curriculum followed the accredited syllabus and as soon as possible assessments will be undertaken to turn these non-accredited achievements into qualifications.

Response
I appreciate the Board carrying forward their concern about the provision of work and education for people in prison. Clearly the last 12 months has not seen any normal regime delivery for education or workshops whilst Covid-19 restrictions were in place and many regime elements will remain suspended (including all classroom-based education) across the adult prison estate until health advice and/or our own assessment of future risk tells us that it is safe to resume them. Prior to the pandemic HMP Full Sutton was very clear how the curriculum would respond to recommendations made by HM Inspector of Prisons, including the new pay and allocations policy mentioned in my predecessor’s letter of 10 August 2020 in response to the Boards previous annual report. Although the robust plan of improvements for work and education was unable to commence, planning has continued in close partnership with the Education provider, in order to restart the regime in line with Covid-19 recovery procedures. The new curriculum, with additional qualifications and the measuring of individual progress, will improve the quality of Education, Skills and Work. HMP Full Sutton’s ability to continue the DHL service for prisons during the pandemic has been much appreciated nationally, and when workshop regime is permitted the prison will begin to reopen meaningful workplaces, including the long-awaited woodwork workshop. It is also encouraging that when the new commissioned regime was delivered from September 2020, albeit in a Covid-restricted outreach learning model, considerable effort was made to help support those in prison to engage and succeed. It is accepted that the achievements are at this point non-accredited, but the curriculum followed the accredited syllabus and as soon as possible assessments will be undertaken to turn these non-accredited achievements into qualifications.

Response
I appreciate the Board carrying forward their concern about the provision of work and education for people in prison. Clearly the last 12 months has not seen any normal regime delivery for education or workshops whilst Covid-19 restrictions were in place and many regime elements will remain suspended (including all classroom-based education) across the adult prison estate until health advice and/or our own assessment of future risk tells us that it is safe to resume them. Prior to the pandemic HMP Full Sutton was very clear how the curriculum would respond to recommendations made by HM Inspector of Prisons, including the new pay and allocations policy mentioned in my predecessor’s letter of 10 August 2020 in response to the Boards previous annual report. Although the robust plan of improvements for work and education was unable to commence, planning has continued in close partnership with the Education provider, in order to restart the regime in line with Covid-19 recovery procedures. The new curriculum, with additional qualifications and the measuring of individual progress, will improve the quality of Education, Skills and Work. HMP Full Sutton’s ability to continue the DHL service for prisons during the pandemic has been much appreciated nationally, and when workshop regime is permitted the prison will begin to reopen meaningful workplaces, including the long-awaited woodwork workshop. It is also encouraging that when the new commissioned regime was delivered from September 2020, albeit in a Covid-restricted outreach learning model, considerable effort was made to help support those in prison to engage and succeed. It is accepted that the achievements are at this point non-accredited, but the curriculum followed the accredited syllabus and as soon as possible assessments will be undertaken to turn these non-accredited achievements into qualifications.

Response
Following a pause in the development of the new Prisoners’ Property Policy Framework project, due to Covid-19, a meeting with IMB representatives took place in August 2020. The feedback received from those members was considered alongside the comments which we received from other stakeholders, and comments from subsequent operational engagement. We have shared the draft framework with some key stakeholders, including the IMB representatives we previously consulted, and this will be followed by wider consultation shortly.

Response
The Long Term and High Security Estate (LTHSE) have continued to review the STEP unit with the Governor and his team to ensure clarity over its role, which remains as a unit to support progression for those in prison who have been subject to segregated conditions, usually for a protracted period. As with the provision of other intervention work access to progressive work has been impacted by the pandemic but the local team remain committed to delivering the service and will be supported by the LTHSE to plan for incremental increases in provision as part of their Covid-19 recovery planning. Referral across all specialist Pathways to Progression units is currently under review and will continue to be developed with the local team.

Response
HMPPS understands the importance of keeping in contact with family and friends and so is making sure those in prison have enough money to make phone calls during this global pandemic with an additional £5 credit per week added to PIN phone system accounts, funded by the Help with Prison Visits scheme. Additionally, BT has reduced the cost of PIN phone system calls during the period until visits can be resumed. While the PIN phone system is not directly comparable to any other public payphone service, requiring security and monitoring which is essential to the specific requirements of HMPPS, services and costs are currently being reviewed.

Response
I appreciate the Board carrying forward their concern about the provision of work and education for people in prison. Clearly the last 12 months has not seen any normal regime delivery for education or workshops whilst Covid-19 restrictions were in place and many regime elements will remain suspended (including all classroom-based education) across the adult prison estate until health advice and/or our own assessment of future risk tells us that it is safe to resume them. Prior to the pandemic HMP Full Sutton was very clear how the curriculum would respond to recommendations made by HM Inspector of Prisons, including the new pay and allocations policy mentioned in my predecessor’s letter of 10 August 2020 in response to the Boards previous annual report. Although the robust plan of improvements for work and education was unable to commence, planning has continued in close partnership with the Education provider, in order to restart the regime in line with Covid-19 recovery procedures. The new curriculum, with additional qualifications and the measuring of individual progress, will improve the quality of Education, Skills and Work. HMP Full Sutton’s ability to continue the DHL service for prisons during the pandemic has been much appreciated nationally, and when workshop regime is permitted the prison will begin to reopen meaningful workplaces, including the long-awaited woodwork workshop. It is also encouraging that when the new commissioned regime was delivered from September 2020, albeit in a Covid-restricted outreach learning model, considerable effort was made to help support those in prison to engage and succeed. It is accepted that the achievements are at this point non-accredited, but the curriculum followed the accredited syllabus and as soon as possible assessments will be undertaken to turn these non-accredited achievements into qualifications.

Response
The Long Term and High Security Estate (LTHSE) have continued to review the STEP unit with the Governor and his team to ensure clarity over its role, which remains as a unit to support progression for those in prison who have been subject to segregated conditions, usually for a protracted period. As with the provision of other intervention work access to progressive work has been impacted by the pandemic but the local team remain committed to delivering the service and will be supported by the LTHSE to plan for incremental increases in provision as part of their Covid-19 recovery planning. Referral across all specialist Pathways to Progression units is currently under review and will continue to be developed with the local team.