Stafford

Response
I acknowledge once more the Board’s ongoing concern about prisoners’ property. I understand your concern and hope to reassure you that HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is working closely with stakeholders to consult on the proposed changes to the policy. Discussions ahead of consultation with IMB members began with the IMB Secretariat in late February 2020, however, in light of the pressures placed on Boards by Covid-19, HMPPS agreed with the IMB Secretariat to push consultation back until August 2020. The feedback obtained from IMB members will then be considered alongside the comments from other stakeholders. It is intended that the revised draft policy framework will be circulated for wider consultation at the end of this year. Locally, staff at the prison will continue to work hard to resolve property related issues.

Response
Turning to the Board’s remarks on resettlement, I am pleased the Board has recognised that although HMP Stafford is not resourced as a resettlement prison, staff have continued to improve the provision for those discharged directly and this was also recognised by HM Inspectorate of Prisons during the inspection in January 2020. I note and welcome the successful arrangements with the local Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC), and other organisations and agencies as highlighted in your report. It is accepted there are circumstances where prisoners are not transferred to a designated resettlement prison prior to release, but CRCs do provide prisoners with access to appropriate resettlement services. More broadly to aid the provision of resettlement HMPPS has implemented an enhanced Through the Gate service, including prisoners released directly from non-resettlement prisons like HMP Stafford. An additional £22 million has been invested per annum for the remainder of the CRC contracts to ensure they deliver this service and provide complete specific, tailored, tasks to help prisoners resettle successfully back into the community. The National Probation Service continues to work towards increasing the commissioning of these services, including setting minimum levels of purchasing, to encourage full use of the appropriate rate cards. The new Governor is also seeking other ways in which to improve the resettlement services on offer.

Response
Turning to the Board’s remarks on resettlement, I am pleased the Board has recognised that although HMP Stafford is not resourced as a resettlement prison, staff have continued to improve the provision for those discharged directly and this was also recognised by HM Inspectorate of Prisons during the inspection in January 2020. I note and welcome the successful arrangements with the local Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC), and other organisations and agencies as highlighted in your report. It is accepted there are circumstances where prisoners are not transferred to a designated resettlement prison prior to release, but CRCs do provide prisoners with access to appropriate resettlement services. More broadly to aid the provision of resettlement HMPPS has implemented an enhanced Through the Gate service, including prisoners released directly from non-resettlement prisons like HMP Stafford. An additional £22 million has been invested per annum for the remainder of the CRC contracts to ensure they deliver this service and provide complete specific, tailored, tasks to help prisoners resettle successfully back into the community. The National Probation Service continues to work towards increasing the commissioning of these services, including setting minimum levels of purchasing, to encourage full use of the appropriate rate cards. The new Governor is also seeking other ways in which to improve the resettlement services on offer.

Response
HMPPS recognises the importance of having in-cell telephony across the estate as it allows easier access to family and friends. Installing infrastructure into the prison environment is complex and often time consuming due to local restrictions and security implications that must be adhered to. It takes up to 12 months to install in-cell telephony into each prison. The in-cell telephony project team have completed just over 60% of the estate, on that basis there is still some way to go and funding needs to be secured. HMPPS determines the priority order of deployment and HMP Stafford is unfortunately not in scope at present.

Response
HMP Stafford has a very good work and education offer and very minimal unemployment, with the vast majority of prisoners being employed full time and attending work daily. This provides very little flexibility in the pay budget to improve weekly pay rates offsetting against lower unemployment rates. The Governor will look at ways within the budgetary constraints in which he may be able to improve the rates in some work areas.

Response
Turning to the Board’s remarks on resettlement, I am pleased the Board has recognised that although HMP Stafford is not resourced as a resettlement prison, staff have continued to improve the provision for those discharged directly and this was also recognised by HM Inspectorate of Prisons during the inspection in January 2020. I note and welcome the successful arrangements with the local Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC), and other organisations and agencies as highlighted in your report. It is accepted there are circumstances where prisoners are not transferred to a designated resettlement prison prior to release, but CRCs do provide prisoners with access to appropriate resettlement services. More broadly to aid the provision of resettlement HMPPS has implemented an enhanced Through the Gate service, including prisoners released directly from non-resettlement prisons like HMP Stafford. An additional £22 million has been invested per annum for the remainder of the CRC contracts to ensure they deliver this service and provide complete specific, tailored, tasks to help prisoners resettle successfully back into the community. The National Probation Service continues to work towards increasing the commissioning of these services, including setting minimum levels of purchasing, to encourage full use of the appropriate rate cards. The new Governor is also seeking other ways in which to improve the resettlement services on offer.

Response
HMP Stafford continues to explore other activities for retired prisoners to be involved in whilst not attending the Senior Support Group. Funding has been approved to develop a nursing wing which will support prisoners with adult social care needs in a clinically led environment. It is anticipated that this work will commence over the coming months.