Estate/Conditions
Repeated
Living conditions at Hewell Grange were described as the worst seen in its type of establishment, with the physical building continuing to deteriorate due to minimal maintenance, and prisoners held in substandard accommodation, including issues with rodents.
Source wording under review
Regime/Time Out of Cell
Repeated
Extraordinarily for an open prison, Hewell Grange was found to be poor in both purposeful activity and rehabilitation and release planning prior to its closure.
Healthcare
The provision of healthcare was patchy, frequently adequate but not reliably so, with pharmacy and dentistry services proving particularly inconsistent and problematic, leading to negative impacts for prisoners.
Source wording under review
Mental Health
There was no specific mental healthcare provided, despite evident anxiety among some residents during the unsettling closure process.
Equality/Diversity
The specific characteristics of the prisoner population were not, in the Board’s view, adequately reflected in discussions. The Board understood that the prisoners from a minority group only had their distinct needs met individually on request.
Equality/Diversity
Facilities for disabled prisoners were generally limited, and access throughout Hewell Grange remained a significant difficulty for individuals with mobility problems.
Education/Purposeful Activity
1 Education, library The education department ceased providing courses by the end of 2019 and closed, with staff and equipment reallocated by mid-January 2020. The library had a prominent position within the main building. It was well stocked and sympathetically staffed. During the preparations for closure it added the important function of holding information about other prisons in the open estate. College courses proved to be particularly difficult as the closure date of 31 March meant that learners had to be removed from the college system as they could not complete the full course. None of the transferring establishments were able to facilitate continuation of learning at South and City College due to travelling distances and their protocols.
Resettlement/Release
The lack of any other male category D establishment within a radius of 60 miles by road following Hewell Grange's closure inevitably had serious implications for prisoners’ contact with their families.