Cookham Wood

There is a chronic lack of secure mental health hospital beds for children nationally, and the time taken to transfer boys with significant mental health issues to hospital from a YOI is inhumane. What urgent steps will be taken to work with ministerial colleagues in the Department of Health to provide more secure mental health services for children?

I acknowledge that the Board is still concerned about the lack of hospital beds for children and young people (CYP) diagnosed with mental health conditions and the transfer waiting time. As outlined in my response of 1 May 2020, NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE/I) and HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) are considering ways to improve the pathway and placements for this cohort. NHSE/I commissioners are working with the health providers locally to improve their strategy for managing CYP with very complex needs. For CYP awaiting a transfer, individual support plans are developed to provide enhanced support. A Reforming the Mental Health Act white paper was published on 13 January 2021, which builds on recommendations made by Professor Sir Simon Wessely’s Independent Review in 2018. The white paper committed to take forward the Review’s recommendation to introduce a statutory time limit of 28 days for transfers to mental health hospitals when someone becomes unwell in custody or experiences a relapse in an existing condition. Locally, the regional Commissioner at the time of writing has confirmed there are currently two individuals requiring a transfer under the Mental Health Act although the number can change on a daily basis. There are dedicated staff available at the establishment to offer emotional support and ensure CYP can access therapeutic services.

There have been several occasions when boys with long sentences, who have reached the age of 18 years, have remained at Cookham Wood for a period of months, instead of being moved to a YOI facility for 18–21-year-olds. This situation has been exacerbated when the boys have been kept in segregation for safety reasons. The delay in organising transfers to the adult estate in such cases is inhumane. Sentence planning is required to ensure that young adults do not get stuck in YOIs pending transfer to the young adult estate.

I also acknowledge your concern about the delays in transferring 18-year olds to the young adult estate. It is recognised that delays often arise when Governors consider the impact on stability and security, and have to enact additional planning for certain individual CYP, who are to transition into their establishment. Work is ongoing to streamline transition arrangements, and this includes the setting up of a transitions’ working group. The new policy framework for transitioning 18-year olds from the CYP Secure Estate will help formalise the current process and aid safe and timely transfers. Whilst the framework awaits publication, where youth establishments encounter difficulties with a transfer, staff will liaise with the Placements Team within the Youth Custody Service (YCS). The Governor will also monitor HMYOI Cookham Wood’s transition progress and escalate issues to the relevant adult estate accordingly. NHSE/I are also working with providers of health services on site to develop specific interventions to prepare young people for the experience of transition to the adult estate.

The percentage of boys at Cookham Wood who are there while being held on remand has increased over the reporting year. An urgent review of court procedures is required, to avoid children enduring long periods in prison while being held on remand – with the potential for at least some of them being found ‘not guilty’ at the end of their long stay on remand.

I note the Board’s request for an urgent review of court procedures to avoid children enduring long periods in custody while on remand. We ensured throughout this pandemic that youth cases have been prioritised and regularly reviewed, especially cases that involve youths in custody. I would like to reassure the Board that HM Courts and Tribunals Service in conjunction with the judiciary are working to prioritise trials involving youth defendants, and youth cases will be continually reviewed to ensure that they remain a top priority.

During the lockdown period, boys at Cookham Wood were subjected to a severe regime and were locked in their rooms for up to 23 hours a day. Such a period of segregation contravenes the Mandela rules. A return to a full regime of time out of room for education, physical exercise, dining out and association must be introduced as soon as possible.

In response to the Board’s comments about HMYOI Cookham Wood’s regime, since September 2020 when restrictions eased, a proactive approach was taken to increase time out of room. Unfortunately, HMYOI Cookham Wood experienced a recent outbreak of coronavirus, so to limit the transmission of the virus the Governor has had to immediately review the regime again to ensure that risks are manageable. It is the priority of HMPPS to maintain the safety and wellbeing of those in custodial settings. HMPPS plan for easing restrictions (and re-introducing them where necessary) will be guided by public health advice alongside an operational assessment of what can be safely implemented. As I am sure the Board will appreciate, as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so a regime recovery plan will be implemented through a bespoke Exceptional Delivery Model. Ongoing discussions with partner agencies and unions about the delivery of education lessons / purposeful activity during the recovery stage will continue.

Currently, prisoners are not allowed to start an apprenticeship. Will the Ministry of Justice allow boys who would like to start an apprenticeship to do so while they are still in prison?

Regarding your comments about apprenticeships, unfortunately given the structure of many apprenticeships, whereby a certain number of hours spent with an employer is necessary, it is not always possible to guarantee a CYP will be eligible for release. It is also important for CYP and employers to be able to ensure continuity and if a CYP has been placed away from home and/or is serving a short sentence, this continuity cannot be guaranteed. YCS is pursuing ways of making education and vocational delivery more flexible and attuned to the needs of CYP. YCS is retendering learning services to a revised specification and establishing with the Department for Education ways in which the new T-Levels courses can offer quality vocational qualifications.

The YCS should provide additional care plus end-to-end sentence planning and support for long-sentence boys - with regard to whether young adult institutions (specifically, Aylesbury, Deerbolt and Swinfen Hall) have the capacity to accept an increasing number of 18-year-olds transitioning from juvenile YOIs What steps will be taken to arrange transfers to the adult estate for young adults who are aged 18+ and have long sentences and/or complex needs – some of whom have been held inhumanely for long periods in segregation while other institutions refuse to take them? Additional care and support is needed for long-sentence boys (specifically those with extended or life sentences). Violent and/or disruptive 18-year-olds in YOIs can become ‘stuck’ in segregation awaiting transfer. Is there end-to-end sentence planning and support for these boys? Do they carry their sentence plan with them when they transition to a young adult institution? Or do they have to start afresh?

To improve the quality of sentence plans and working relationships with Youth Offending Teams (YOT), department managers now attend complex reviews and provide quality assurance. HMYOI Cookham Wood is committed to improving sentence planning further and is currently introducing a resettlement file for all CYP to have in their possession which will include all necessary documents such as their sentence plan. Unless it is considered inappropriate, families will also be provided with a copy along with the YOT and Custody Support Plan officer. This will help to improve collective team working and the support for CYP. In order to keep staff and CYP safe an Enhanced SECURE STAIRS (ESS) Team, comprising of colleagues from across YCS, psychology and NHSE/I have been mobilised at pace to provide a blanket of support and advice. This takes particular account of the vulnerabilities of CYP with complex needs. Cookham Wood’s Enhanced Support Services have ensured that those CYP with a particular risk and needs have an ESS, and where necessary, advice and support is sought from the multi-agency Critical Case Pathway, including NHSE/I, YCS and Psychology Services.

What will be done to either improve the inhumane Phoenix CSU, or remove it from use?

Phoenix Unit In December 2020 Phoenix unit was closed. Funding has been approved for the refurbishment of the unit repurposing it as an outreach day care unit for those individuals with complex needs. This new unit is planned to open this year. The scope of work includes window replacement, installation of in-room shower pods, new flooring and wall plastering. This project is anticipated to be completed at the end of March 2021 subject to Covid-19 restrictions and is hoped will address the points raised in section 5.1 of your report.

The lockdown highlighted Cookham Wood’s serious lack of IT facilities and telephone capacity. This greatly inhibited effective communication and planning with external agencies. What will be done to increase IT and telephone communication facilities in YOIs?

It is recognised the importance of having in-cell telephony across the estate as it allows easier access to family/friends and other support frameworks. The In-Cell Telephony project has now completed just over 60% of the estate, which includes HMYOI Cookham Wood. Funding has been approved for HMYOI Cookham Wood to be equipped with in-cell devices (additional to the telephony system). The devices will have a content hub which includes notices, blogs, account balances and restricted YouTube content. The vision is to add educational activities and a self-service platform to the devices. Implementation rollout is imminent with a completion date set for March 2021, subject to Covid-19 restrictions.

At the end of August, there were no plans to return to full-time education at Cookham Wood from the beginning of September – as has been deemed a national priority for all other children nationally. When will the YCS allow full-time education to resume for boys in Cookham Wood?

In response to the Board’s comments about HMYOI Cookham Wood’s regime, since September 2020 when restrictions eased, a proactive approach was taken to increase time out of room. Unfortunately, HMYOI Cookham Wood experienced a recent outbreak of coronavirus, so to limit the transmission of the virus the Governor has had to immediately review the regime again to ensure that risks are manageable. It is the priority of HMPPS to maintain the safety and wellbeing of those in custodial settings. HMPPS plan for easing restrictions (and re-introducing them where necessary) will be guided by public health advice alongside an operational assessment of what can be safely implemented. As I am sure the Board will appreciate, as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so a regime recovery plan will be implemented through a bespoke Exceptional Delivery Model. Ongoing discussions with partner agencies and unions about the delivery of education lessons / purposeful activity during the recovery stage will continue.

As the lockdown eases and a fuller regime is offered, there will be more opportunities for boy-on-boy assaults and bullying. How will the behaviour management policy be developed to address this?

When there is a full education timetable again, what will be done to maintain a high level of attendance at classes?

What is the plan and timescale for the provision of full Secure Stairs support for all boys and staff?

To improve the quality of sentence plans and working relationships with Youth Offending Teams (YOT), department managers now attend complex reviews and provide quality assurance. HMYOI Cookham Wood is committed to improving sentence planning further and is currently introducing a resettlement file for all CYP to have in their possession which will include all necessary documents such as their sentence plan. Unless it is considered inappropriate, families will also be provided with a copy along with the YOT and Custody Support Plan officer. This will help to improve collective team working and the support for CYP. In order to keep staff and CYP safe an Enhanced SECURE STAIRS (ESS) Team, comprising of colleagues from across YCS, psychology and NHSE/I have been mobilised at pace to provide a blanket of support and advice. This takes particular account of the vulnerabilities of CYP with complex needs. Cookham Wood’s Enhanced Support Services have ensured that those CYP with a particular risk and needs have an ESS, and where necessary, advice and support is sought from the multi-agency Critical Case Pathway, including NHSE/I, YCS and Psychology Services.

The CSU is old and has inadequate facilities. What will be done to improve these facilities, or to relocate the unit? In particular, boys in this unit (unlike all the other boys at Cookham Wood) do not have in-cell telephones to speak with their families. Will in-cell telephones be provided in the CSU, and if not, why not?

Phoenix Unit In December 2020 Phoenix unit was closed. Funding has been approved for the refurbishment of the unit repurposing it as an outreach day care unit for those individuals with complex needs. This new unit is planned to open this year. The scope of work includes window replacement, installation of in-room shower pods, new flooring and wall plastering. This project is anticipated to be completed at the end of March 2021 subject to Covid-19 restrictions and is hoped will address the points raised in section 5.1 of your report. It is recognised the importance of having in-cell telephony across the estate as it allows easier access to family/friends and other support frameworks. The In-Cell Telephony project has now completed just over 60% of the estate, which includes HMYOI Cookham Wood. Funding has been approved for HMYOI Cookham Wood to be equipped with in-cell devices (additional to the telephony system). The devices will have a content hub which includes notices, blogs, account balances and restricted YouTube content. The vision is to add educational activities and a self-service platform to the devices. Implementation rollout is imminent with a completion date set for March 2021, subject to Covid-19 restrictions.