Hewell

Response
I was further encouraged to note the establishing and use of the prison council, together with the significant work undertaken to improve time out of cell and to enable equity of access to work and other activities.

Response
You also raise the issue of alternatives to custodial sentences. I’m pleased to say that the Government has delivered on a manifesto commitment to bring sentencing up to date and ensure the framework is consistent by launching an Independent Sentencing Review. This will be chaired by former Lord Chancellor, David Gauke. It will be up to the Chair to decide his areas of focus, but we expect consideration will be given to the use of community alternatives to prison. The review will submit its findings in Spring 2025, and we look forward to considering its recommendations in full.

Response
I appreciate your ongoing concerns regarding the provision of mental health services for prisoners. I want to assure you that all people in prison, including those held on remand, have access to integrated mental health services commissioned by NHS England (NHSE). Together with NHSE, we continue to improve services in prison to ensure that people have access to timely and effective mental health care that is tailored to their needs. However, we recognise that vulnerable people in prison who meet the threshold for detention under the Mental Health Act and require a transfer to hospital, continue to experience delays in accessing the specialist care and treatment they need. The Mental Health Bill was introduced to Parliament on 6th November 2024. The Bill sets out vital reforms to support people with severe mental illness in the Criminal Justice System. It aims to speed up access to specialist inpatient care and ensure that offenders and defendants with severe mental health needs can access appropriate and timely support in the most appropriate setting. Locally, commissioners are working with the healthcare provider and the prison to review mental health provision, including targeted care pathways to better respond to individual’s needs.

Response
All prisoners have a Digital Personal Learning Plan which captures progress and is accessible across the estate, so in effect moves with them. These services/processes are continuing to be improved through development of the new Learning & Work Progress Service which will be in mandatory use in all public sector prisons by 1 April 2025.

Response
I understand the advantages of providing prisoners with IT access and other sites are seeing the benefits of ‘Launchpad’. This is a digital platform that lets users access local and national content supporting their progression along with replacing paper systems for tasks such as submitting applications and checking prison account balances. Whilst the longer-term ambition is to roll-out the in-cell solution ‘Launchpad’ across the closed public-sector estate, there are unfortunately no firm plans yet to roll this out at HMP Hewell.

Response
As you will be aware, reoffending rates are far too high and we will always seek to identify opportunities to improve the chances of effective resettlement. One of the ways in which we can do that is to improve employment opportunities on release and so it was encouraging to receive your comments about the employment hub initiative and the excellent support that this provides to men whilst in custody and after release. The employment outcomes that your report highlights are particularly impressive, enabling those leaving our custody to make positive life changing choices upon their return to families and society.

Response
The Enable programme outlines a strategic approach to the transformation of our workforce, focusing on significant reforms in capability, development, leadership, and support. The Enable programme is currently testing a number of products across our Early Adopters sites and other testing sites as the first step towards achieving the Enable vision. This will allow for the continued refinement of products and will also provide opportunity to explore and understand the options for delivery and implementation of products at an individual site level. We expect to have completed this process and have some of the Enable products ready for next year, but we are not able to confirm a date for rollout at HMP Hewell at this time.

Response
The centralised recruitment model ensures a consistent standard is applied in assessment, helping to combat unconscious bias, and reducing the opportunity for adverse impact. Centralised recruitment also supports the delivery of volume recruitment at pace and provides efficiencies due to the economies of scale achieved for large volumes of applicants. Whilst we do operate a centralised recruitment process, we recognise the value that prisons can contribute to the recruitment journey and prisons are encouraged to take an active role in engaging with applicants locally, especially regarding the early onboarding process of new colleagues so that they’re prepared for the prison they’re entering. HMPPS has been piloting local delivery models of the recruitment process with the purpose of testing the hypothesis that increased engagement locally will deliver better results both in respect of the quality of candidates recruited and on retention. HMPPS will draw lessons and strategies from these pilots to inform future strategies.

Response
I understand the advantages of providing prisoners with IT access and other sites are seeing the benefits of ‘Launchpad’. This is a digital platform that lets users access local and national content supporting their progression along with replacing paper systems for tasks such as submitting applications and checking prison account balances. Whilst the longer-term ambition is to roll-out the in-cell solution ‘Launchpad’ across the closed public-sector estate, there are unfortunately no firm plans yet to roll this out at HMP Hewell.

Response
NHS England commissioned a rapid needs assessment for HMP Hewell in December 2023 in response to prison pressures and the changing needs of the population. This assessment was used to inform a business case for additional funding for the whole healthcare service at HMP Hewell. Positively, this was approved and agreed until 31 March 2026, and specifically for mental health service provides: • 150 additional Mental Health Nurse hours per week • 2.5 additional Consultant Psychiatrist sessions per week Full needs assessments are usually commissioned every 3-4 years and Commissioners plan to undertake this for HMP Hewell in early 2025.

Response
All prisoners have a Digital Personal Learning Plan which captures progress and is accessible across the estate, so in effect moves with them. These services/processes are continuing to be improved through development of the new Learning & Work Progress Service which will be in mandatory use in all public sector prisons by 1 April 2025.