Recommendations 23 items · 15 repeated
Recommendations were extracted from the report by AI, and responses and their status from the ministerial response by AI. Each recommendation shows whether its wording has been checked against the report.
Response: In progress
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Safety
Recommendation (the Board's words)
Will the new Government support the recommendations of the Urgent Notification Action Plan and the investment commitment made after the alleged escape?
Government response (as published)
I am pleased to advise that the Government is immediately addressing HMIP’s concerns by deploying extra specialist staff to help turn the prison around and redirecting £100 million from across the Prison Service that will be spent over five years to deliver urgent improvements. This includes cell windows being repaired, shower refurbishments, and investment in fire safety measures. Other measures to bolster prison security and safety at HMP Wandsworth include the deployment of specialist security and drug staff and introduction of new leadership; regular drug searches from specialist drug detection teams; advanced violence reduction training sessions for staff; and improved access to rehabilitative services such as education and employment workshops which I am personally passionate about and hopeful they will prove successful.
Response: In progress
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Resettlement
Recommendation (the Board's words)
Will the Remand Project continue to be funded? Are there any other initiatives in place to assist the rehabilitation of remand prisoners?
Government response (as published)
The Board will be pleased to know that the Remand Project recommenced at the end of July and will continue until March 2025. As part of the Urgent Notification response, HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) will be investing approximately £180k to improve the offer of support for those on remand and better prepare for release by reintroducing a remand support lead, case worker, and administrator at the prison. Early signs indicate this is already having a positive impact with the life skills course having a 90% completion rate, and prisoners reporting that they had been helped with over 85% of queries raised. Other local initiatives to assist remand prisoners include a local tenancy sustainment service, and a new project focused on violence reduction which is being commissioned at HMP Pentonville and HMP Wandsworth in partnership with the London Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime.
Response: In progress
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Estate · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The basic conditions for prisoners at Wandsworth remain inadequate, both in terms of the infrastructure of the buildings (showers not operative, inconsistent heating, damaged cells etc.) and the provision of kit (including clothing and bedding). What support will be provided to the prison to help rectify this?
Government response (as published)
I am pleased to advise that the Government is immediately addressing HMIP’s concerns by deploying extra specialist staff to help turn the prison around and redirecting £100 million from across the Prison Service that will be spent over five years to deliver urgent improvements. This includes cell windows being repaired, shower refurbishments, and investment in fire safety measures. Regarding the provision of clothing and bedding, HMPPS is exploring a new inventory system that will facilitate better provision of supplies and kit for prisoners, starting with those new to custody and as part of the Early Days processes. Additionally, a small amount of funding has been secured to replenish current stock levels of prisoner clothing.
Response: In progress
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Healthcare · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
In October 2023 you wrote that the new healthcare centre would “open soon”. This has not happened. We repeat our question – why the delay and when will it open?
Government response (as published)
The new healthcare building has been handed over to the establishment. The outstanding project work required to deliver the required IT infrastructure and connectivity for both healthcare and prison staff is in progress. In order to open the building for full operational delivery, a scoping exercise is required on the logistical considerations necessary to enable prisoners to access healthcare services from the new setting. There will be some disruption to the current delivery of health services whilst this work is being completed but limited to no more than two weeks. This temporary reduction in service will not impact on emergency care, new reception screenings, or mental health services, and will be fully communicated to prisoners. The Board will be aware some of the causes for the delays were due to fire door issues, outstanding completion of telecommunications systems and cabling, and problems with the air conditioning unit within the new pharmacy facilities.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Other · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
There has been no satisfactory answer to any of the questions asked of the Prison Service in our previous Annual Report (see below). Please could you answer the questions?
Response: Partially accepted
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Staffing · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
Officer recruitment has been poor, leading to a high turnover of often unsuitable staff. Recruitment is handled centrally. Will the Service consider allowing the prison to become involved in the process so that applicants receive a realistic impression of the role?
Government response (as published)
A 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. Although a centralised recruitment policy is in place, HMP Berwyn have been piloting a local delivery model 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 and the Ministry of Justice will draw on lessons and strategies from the HMP Berwyn pilot to inform future strategies. Whilst HMPPS currently operates a centralised recruitment process, it is recognised there is 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 staff so that they are prepared for the prison they are entering. HMP Wandsworth is currently reviewing its staff induction processes to ensure that all staff are provided the information and tools they need to improve their experience of taking up employment at HMP Wandsworth. The prison is also making considerable efforts to ensure staff are sufficiently trained so that they are more confident in their jobs. The Standards Coaching Team have been deployed to HMP Wandsworth and the Prison Group Director is revamping the role of the London New Colleague Mentors to provide regional, targeted support.
Response: In progress
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Education
Recommendation (the Board's words)
When will adequate funding be provided for much needed courses and training to allow better employment prospects for prisoners upon release?
Government response (as published)
The Governor has commissioned a review of all full-time activity spaces to introduce more part time opportunities. The prison will be converting some of their full-time industries spaces to part-time positions which will increase availability of spaces by approximately seventy. The prison has also received an increase in funding which supported the introduction of two new workshops that started in October 2024, creating twenty-four additional purposeful activity spaces in construction skills and barista engineering, both of which will lead to employment-based qualifications. New activity spaces will be added to the 2024 educational curriculum: 144 Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) and 312 Digital Skills per annum.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Other
Recommendation (the Board's words)
In the light of the UN issued to the prison and the subsequent recommendations made under the Action Plan, what are your priorities as the newly appointed Governor?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Equality
Recommendation (the Board's words)
The Board is very concerned about the inadequacy of the support provided to foreign nationals, who comprise around 50% of the prisoners. What are your plans to address this?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Regime
Recommendation (the Board's words)
If the operational capacity of the prison is reduced, what specific improvements in regime will occur and how will education and activities be improved?
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Safety
Recommendation (the Board's words)
In the past year, the IMB was not always informed of major incidents, particularly Deaths in Custody. Can you assure us that you will put a process in place to rectify this?
Response: Partially accepted
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Staffing
Recommendation (the Board's words)
In light of the adverse publicity the prison has received, do you intend to address the question of staff morale and raise the profile of the prison in the community?
Government response (as published)
HMP Wandsworth is currently reviewing its staff induction processes to ensure that all staff are provided the information and tools they need to improve their experience of taking up employment at HMP Wandsworth. The prison is also making considerable efforts to ensure staff are sufficiently trained so that they are more confident in their jobs. The Standards Coaching Team have been deployed to HMP Wandsworth and the Prison Group Director is revamping the role of the London New Colleague Mentors to provide regional, targeted support.
Response: In progress
Addressee: Ministry of Justice · Topic: Overcrowding · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation
With the establishment dangerously overcrowded and living conditions inhumane what immediate actions will the Minister authorise to redress the shortage of resources – human, financial and physical?
Government response (as published)
I am pleased to advise that the Government is immediately addressing HMIP’s concerns by deploying extra specialist staff to help turn the prison around and redirecting £100 million from across the Prison Service that will be spent over five years to deliver urgent improvements. This includes cell windows being repaired, shower refurbishments, and investment in fire safety measures. Other measures to bolster prison security and safety at HMP Wandsworth include the deployment of specialist security and drug staff and introduction of new leadership; regular drug searches from specialist drug detection teams; advanced violence reduction training sessions for staff; and improved access to rehabilitative services such as education and employment workshops which I am personally passionate about and hopeful they will prove successful.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Resettlement · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation
HMP Wandsworth is a reception establishment yet housing services are only offered to sentenced prisoners. When will these services be extended to unsentenced prisoners?
Government response (as published)
Although the Commissioned Rehabilitative Service services were initially only available for sentenced people in prison, HMPPS is working on extending the contracts for accommodation to include the unconvicted and unsentenced. A strategic housing specialist supports remand prisoners with housing on release, where appropriate, and there is a service supporting remand prisoners with existing tenancies.
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Estate · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation
Is there a prison building programme to alleviate chronic overcrowding as well as providing modern spaces for the anticipated rise in prisoner numbers?
Government response (as published)
We have already delivered c.5,500 of the planned 20,000 modern uncrowded places. The Ministry of Justice is striving to reduce the court backlog and has extended the use of the Nightingale courtrooms over the course of this financial year, to provide additional court capacity.
Response: In progress
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Healthcare · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation
The new multi-million pound healthcare centre has still not opened over one year after its original scheduled opening date. Prisoners have therefore been deprived of the benefit it would have brought. When will the centre open?
Government response (as published)
The new healthcare building has been handed over to the establishment. The outstanding project work required to deliver the required IT infrastructure and connectivity for both healthcare and prison staff is in progress. In order to open the building for full operational delivery, a scoping exercise is required on the logistical considerations necessary to enable prisoners to access healthcare services from the new setting. There will be some disruption to the current delivery of health services whilst this work is being completed but limited to no more than two weeks. This temporary reduction in service will not impact on emergency care, new reception screenings, or mental health services, and will be fully communicated to prisoners. The Board will be aware some of the causes for the delays were due to fire door issues, outstanding completion of telecommunications systems and cabling, and problems with the air conditioning unit within the new pharmacy facilities.
Response: Partially accepted
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Estate · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation
Men have endured another year of inadequate shower facilities coupled with numerous boiler failures resulting in periods of no hot water or heating. When will the old and inadequate heating and water systems be replaced with modern, efficient equipment?
Government response (as published)
I am pleased to advise that the Government is immediately addressing HMIP’s concerns by deploying extra specialist staff to help turn the prison around and redirecting £100 million from across the Prison Service that will be spent over five years to deliver urgent improvements. This includes cell windows being repaired, shower refurbishments, and investment in fire safety measures.
Response: Partially accepted
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Staffing · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
Staff recruitment is managed centrally. Would the Service consider involving HMP Wandsworth in the process to ensure that suitable staff are selected and given a realistic understanding of the role, thus reducing staff turnover?
Government response (as published)
A 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. Although a centralised recruitment policy is in place, HMP Berwyn have been piloting a local delivery model 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 and the Ministry of Justice will draw on lessons and strategies from the HMP Berwyn pilot to inform future strategies. Whilst HMPPS currently operates a centralised recruitment process, it is recognised there is 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 staff so that they are prepared for the prison they are entering. HMP Wandsworth is currently reviewing its staff induction processes to ensure that all staff are provided the information and tools they need to improve their experience of taking up employment at HMP Wandsworth. The prison is also making considerable efforts to ensure staff are sufficiently trained so that they are more confident in their jobs. The Standards Coaching Team have been deployed to HMP Wandsworth and the Prison Group Director is revamping the role of the London New Colleague Mentors to provide regional, targeted support.
Response: In progress
Addressee: HMPPS · Topic: Purposeful Activity · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation
What plans are there to provide meaningful activity to remand prisoners, given that their stay is often lengthy?
Government response (as published)
The Board will be pleased to know that the Remand Project recommenced at the end of July and will continue until March 2025. As part of the Urgent Notification response, HM Prisons and Probation Service (HMPPS) will be investing approximately £180k to improve the offer of support for those on remand and better prepare for release by reintroducing a remand support lead, case worker, and administrator at the prison. Early signs indicate this is already having a positive impact with the life skills course having a 90% completion rate, and prisoners reporting that they had been helped with over 85% of queries raised. Other local initiatives to assist remand prisoners include a local tenancy sustainment service, and a new project focused on violence reduction which is being commissioned at HMP Pentonville and HMP Wandsworth in partnership with the London Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Safety · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation
How do you propose reducing the disproportionately high number of assaults committed by the 18-25 cohort?
Government response (as published)
This is a reflection on understaffing and many young prisoners having gang issues. We will continue to make every effort to keep gang members separated.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Education · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
When will the prison take seriously its obligation to provide regular access to the library?
Government response (as published)
It takes this obligation seriously but the lack of staff available to escort prisoners to the library is a major constraint.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Healthcare · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation (the Board's words)
Non delivery of medications has been a major concern to the Board this year. What is being done to ensure that this improves?
Government response (as published)
Healthcare is working with prison staff to ensure that medication hatches on wings are kept open to ensure that medications are distributed.
Addressee: Governor / Director · Topic: Healthcare · Repeated from a previous year
Recommendation
With the current staff shortages, will it be possible to operate the new healthcare centre safely?
Government response (as published)
Yes, but other services may suffer as officers will be diverted to the healthcare centre.