Peterborough (Women)

Response
I note that the Board’s concerns addressed to me for both establishments are the same, centring around suitable accommodation for prisoners on release, and that this issue is repeated from previous years’ reports. Despite the significant challenges, it remains a priority for us to help ensure that offenders, male and female, have somewhere safe and decent to live, which is paramount in helping them to avoid reoffending. We are investing £22m per annum over the remaining life of the Community Rehabilitation Company (CRC) contracts to deliver an enhanced Through the Gate resettlement service to people leaving prison to prepare them for release. The current Covid-19 emergency has focussed attention on the significant challenge in this area and the importance of regional partnership working in addressing accommodation needs for those leaving prison. As part of its Covid-19 pandemic response, HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has set up seven homelessness prevention taskforces to coordinate the sourcing of accommodation. We have secured up to £8.5 million to support individuals at risk of homelessness on their release from prison for up to eight weeks and help to move on into permanent accommodation. The scheme operated until 31 August and we will utilise the learning gathered during the current Covid-19 emergency to help develop longer-term improvements together with wider reforms to probation services. Strategically, we are working closely across Government to securing suitable accommodation that isn’t directly within our control. HMPPS has developed an Accommodation Framework that sets out its responsibilities, its partners’ responsibilities and duties (including local authorities) and a framework for how to build on success and work together with partners to ensure that offenders are able to access and maintain settled accommodation. HMP/YOI Peterborough continues to work on the local collaborative project between the prison, the regional Sodexo Justice Services CRC and NACRO to provide NACRO-sourced accommodation facilities in Peterborough for both male and female prisoners who otherwise would have been released without accommodation. As mentioned last year, HMPPS has worked closely with the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) on implementation of the Duty to Refer, introduced through the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. The most recent Homelessness Reduction Act, Duty to Refer statistics published by MHCLG recorded that prisons and probation providers accounted for a quarter of all referrals made. HMPPS recently completed a review of its overall effectiveness and has refreshed and relaunched the operational guidance for prisons and probation staff to support timely and effective referrals for accommodation.

Response
Prisoners with Complex Needs (Female) As mentioned last year, prisoners with complex needs in the Womens Estate are supported via the Centralised Case Supervision System (CCSS) and a multi-disciplinary board. This allows case support and advice on the care and management plans for some of the most complex and challenging individuals located within the women’s estate with the aim of progressing individuals through stabilising behaviour and improving wellbeing. This includes those who have been segregated for long periods of time. Access to this national support mechanism is through a referral process with the responsibility on Prison Governors/Directors to identify and refer, therefore the team based in HMPPS headquarters are not automatically involved with all long-term segregation cases. The CCSS adopts a trauma informed approach, keeping the best interests of the women at the centre of all recommendations alongside operational matters and demands. The Women’s Estate offers a range of programmes, therapeutic and offending behaviour, both of which form part of care plans and sentence plans however it is important that plans are appropriately sequenced, allowing behaviour to stabilise in the first instance to help achieve positive outcomes for women. The absence of bespoke interventions for some of the most complex women has been recognised at both a local and national level and following discussions with the Women’s Estate Psychology services (WEPs), the prison is intending to resource a psychology service based in the prison that will work with both prisoners and the staff that manage complex needs cases. This process is underway. Additionally, the prison has placed supplementary management support within the Separation and Care Unit in order to manage cases more closely with staff from the Mental Health team. The aim is to keep women out of segregation wherever possible, although this is not always achieved. Regarding long periods in segregation, prisoners are segregated in line with Prison Service Order 1700. As far as possible, segregated prisoners have access to a regime that is comparable to that on normal location including the usual basic entitlements to social and legal visits, access to the phone, showers, exercise in the open air, and access to privileges under the Incentives and Earned Privileges Scheme subject to the prisoner’s level and compliance with behavioural targets in segregation.

Response
I note you have raised some local issues of concern in your report which the Director will continue to keep you aware of as work continues.