Prisoner disability support
Inadequate documentation, accessibility, and staff awareness regarding disability adjustments for prisoners.
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
PFD report
85match
Liridon Saliuka
There was a lack of clear, accessible documentation detailing a prisoner's disability adjustments and a general lack of disability awareness among prison staff, leading to inappropriate assumptions about his capabilities.
Matched on
terms: disability, prisoner
Committee recommendation
83match
#37 - Publish updated Neurodiversity Action Plan detailing identification and support for prisoners
The Government must publish an update to the Neurodiversity Action Plan without further delay. It should include how they plan to systematically identify how many prisoners have neurodivergent needs, as well as how it aims to support them. (Recommendation, Paragraph 154)
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
Committee recommendation
83match
#36 - Lack of consistent data hinders support for neurodivergent prisoners in the system
It is unclear how the Government plans to support those with neurodivergent needs in the criminal justice system without having consistent and reliable data on how many neurodivergent prisoners there are. Furthermore, it is disappointing that those with neurodivergent needs, who require targeted 86 educational support, are being let down by the system and are unable to access...
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
PFD report
73match
Tyrone Givans
Widespread Spice use, an unfit-for-purpose IT system causing incomplete medical records, and a lack of awareness and support for a deaf prisoner all contributed to significant safety concerns within the prison.
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
Committee recommendation
73match
#9 - First report - Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education to...
Support for prisoners with learning difficulties is long over-due. We welcome the Government’s recent commitment in its Prisons Strategy White Paper to provide dedicated specialist support staff, but the Government must ensure that there is adequate resourcing for this. The Government must, in its response to this Report, provide greater clarity on the funding available to fund specialist...
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
PFD report
69match
Barry Horrocks
A disabled prisoner's essential daily living needs were unmet as the prison environment lacked adaptations and no care provider took responsibility for vital 'social services' support.
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
Committee recommendation
69match
#6 - First report - Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education to...
A high proportion of prisoners have learning needs. It is concerning that prisons have only had to screen for additional learning needs since 2019. This means that the majority of the prison population may never have gone through a screening process. It is clear that there is a lack of data around the numbers of prisoners with special...
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
Committee recommendation
69match
#7 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
We praise prison staff, HMPPS and MoJ officials for their work in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic. The virus has brought into sharp relief many of the issues affecting the prison system, including the particular health vulnerabilities of older cohorts. Amid the focus on protecting prisons from Coronavirus, HMPPS must continue to ensure that prisoners with existing health...
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
IMB recommendation
69match
Gartree (2023)
As the prison population continues to rise and age, the fabric of the buildings continues to cause problems with disability access for elderly and disabled prisoners. Even on Gartree’s dedicated over 50s wing, there are not enough cells large enough to accommodate all wheelchair access requirements and full accessibility. What alternative provisions for this population are being considered?
Matched on
terms: disability, prisoner
PFD report
65match
Shalane Blackwood
The prison lacks adequate provision for complex health needs, has insufficient staff for prisoner regimes, faces rife NPS use, and has unclear decision-making tools and staff awareness for physical symptoms alongside mental health issues.
Matched on
terms: prisoner
PFD report
65match
Anthony Binfield, David Richards and Rolandas Karbauskas
Inadequate recruitment, retention, and training of prison and healthcare staff led to severe understaffing, restricted services, and fundamental failures in prisoner welfare, supervision, and basic safety protocols.
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
65match
#6 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
There needs to be greater recognition across the prison estate that some older prisoners will be unable to engage with the normal regime. Suitable activities and forums should be available to older prisoners to support their welfare and rehabilitation. We commend the excellent work done by some establishments, but provision of these is lacking in many prisons. HMPPS...
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
IMB recommendation
64match
Frankland (2023)
With the new band 6 dedicated neurodiversity support manager in position, when will there be an additional training programme to develop specialist wing staff to work with prisoners who have dementia and autism?
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
IMB annual report
63match
Rye Hill (2020)
HMP Rye Hill, a Category B training prison for men convicted of sexual offences, operated at or near its maximum capacity of 664 during the reporting year. The IMB found the prison to be a generally safe and fair environment, with improvements in healthcare provision and staff stability. However, significant concerns persist regarding the inadequate provision for elderly...
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
Committee recommendation
61match
#8 - First report - Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education to...
There needs to be a whole prison approach to prisoners with learning difficulties. This is currently hampered by the lack of information sharing between the community and the prison estate regarding prisoners’ educational attainment in the community, and any learning difficulties that were identified. This also continues during the prison sentence, with different departments holding their own information...
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
61match
#8 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
An ageing prison population will increase pressure on prison healthcare. To ensure an equivalent standard of care as in the community, it is important that prison healthcare services are appropriately resourced, and staff have awareness of age- related health conditions. We recommend that all prison healthcare teams have a designated older prisoner lead, and that training on age-related...
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
60match
#13 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
Peer support or ‘buddy’ schemes can be an effective way to help meet the care needs of older prisoners. We commend the good work done by some prisons in partnership with third sector organisations to develop such initiatives. Prisons must ensure that prisoners providing care to other inmates are suitably trained and have appropriate oversight.
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
IMB recommendation
60match
Lancaster Farms (2020)
There is a lack of wheelchairs to support prisoners with reduced mobility accessing health care and other amenities. Certain cases have illustrated difficulties of working with external agencies for the support and potential release of those with palliative care needs (see paragraphs 8.5 and 8.9).
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
IMB recommendation
60match
Wayland (2022)
The Board recommends that the concept of a buddy system within the prison for those prisoners who may be mobility-compromised or in need of a degree of personal care is researched and supported.
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
IMB recommendation
60match
Usk and Prescoed (2024)
How will the Minister address the issue of access to support for personal social care for the increasing number of prisoners with limited mobility and other disabilities?
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
IMB recommendation
60match
Morton Hall (2024)
Can the Minister consider how to address the additional impact on the prison resource from the increase in the number of prisoners declaring a disability (5.4.6)? Will this be a priority for increased funding?
Matched on
terms: disability, prisoner
IMB recommendation
60match
Norwich (2025)
Would the Governor please explain why statistics for prisoners identifying as having a disability are not analysed within use of force reports? 33% of prisoners within HMP/YOI Norwich identify as having a disability.
Matched on
terms: disability, prisoner
PFD report
57match
Ronald Sherlock
Older prisoners lacked appropriate access to speech and language therapists to assess and manage swallowing difficulties, including recommendations for diet and fluid intake.
Matched on
terms: prisoner
PFD report
57match
Lewis Francis
A lack of mechanisms for transferring serious crime suspects in police custody to mental health facilities and insufficient understanding of autistic prisoners' needs pose significant risks.
Matched on
terms: prisoner
PFD report
57match
Jonathan McCarthy
Prisons failed to verify and manage critical pre-existing community hospital appointments for prisoners, and lacked fitness-to-transfer assessments, impacting medical care and safety during transfers.
Matched on
terms: prisoner
PFD report
57match
Marta Vento
No formal process exists for prisons to share critical in-prison behavioural and mental health information with sentencing courts. Additionally, national guidance is lacking for ensuring continuity of care for released prisoners with mental health needs.
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
57match
#7 - First report - Not just another brick in the wall: why prisoners need an education to...
The current screening process is not adequate to identify prisoners with additional learning needs. The Ministry of Justice must introduce a consistent assessment process for every prisoner when they enter the prison system. We believe there is a strong case for every prisoner to receive an assessment for learning needs from an educational psychologist, or at the very...
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
57match
#9 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
Older prisoners are disproportionately affected by cancellations to external medical appointments, and their health can be seriously impacted by non-attendance. While increasing the number and availability of prison staff to escort prisoners to appointments is important, we also recommend that the Government review increasing the use of telemedicine and other innovative ways to give prisoners access to medical...
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
57match
#3 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
It is welcome that the new prison places planned as part of the Government’s expansion of the estate will be designed to better accommodate older prisoners and others with disabilities or limited mobility. However, the number of new places delivered under existing expansion projects has been limited. In addition, much of the existing prison estate is unsuited to...
Matched on
terms: prisoner
IMB recommendation
57match
Birmingham (2021)
How will the Prison Service plan a more coordinated, consistent and fair system of recording and tracking provision for prisoners with autism and learning difficulties, and how will they ensure that staff are fully trained and competent at recognising, working and interacting with prisoners with these conditions?
Matched on
terms: prisoner
IMB recommendation
57match
Hewell (2022)
Continue to seek investment/funding opportunities to improve the physical building, in particular facilities for prisoners who have disabilities and accessibility needs.
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
56match
#10 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
The prevalence of dementia in prisons is poorly understood and prison staff can lack awareness of the condition. All older prisoners should have access to screening services for dementia, and prison officers who work with older prisoners should receive training on recognising and managing its symptoms.
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
56match
#16 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
Older prisoners can experience greater levels of institutionalisation and be less able to live independently following their release compared to younger cohorts. Many will require additional support to prepare them to re-join society. Release programmes and guidance that are age relevant, focusing on issues such as using technology, finding accommodation, and accessing pensions and benefits, should be available...
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
Committee recommendation
56match
#24 - 12th Report – Menstrual health of girls and young women
Girls and young women with disabilities and sensory impairments face additional barriers to menstrual wellbeing. Taboos around periods are compounded by those around disability. Disabled and Deaf girls’ period- related needs are routinely ignored or dismissed. We were shocked to hear that girls in specialist spinal cord injury centres receive no advice or support on menstrual wellbeing or...
Matched on
terms: disability, support
IMB annual report
56match
Lincoln (2020)
HMP Lincoln, a Category B local prison, generally treats prisoners fairly and humanely, with a predictable regime and improved cleanliness, according to the IMB's report for 2019-2020. Key improvements include reduced violence, better staff-prisoner relationships, and improved healthcare and education provision. However, significant concerns persist regarding the high level of self-harm, prisoner homelessness on release, and ongoing maintenance...
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
56match
#15 - Provide updates on IPP prisoner resettlement, detailing Resettlement Passports and pre-release preparation
We welcome the Government’s commitment to ensuring that all prison leavers leave prison with the basics, such as ID and a bank account, and ask that updates on this programme of work be provided to us. We would also welcome progress updates on the introduction of Resettlement Passports. As the passports are developed, we recommend that the MoJ...
Matched on
terms: prisoner, support
Committee recommendation
53match
#11 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
Continuing to incarcerate prisoners with severe dementia, who may no longer remember or understand why they are imprisoned, raises practical and ethical 46 Ageing prison population considerations, especially as their condition is very difficult to manage on the prison estate. Equally, the Committee recognises that a significant element of this cohort are convicted for historic sexual offences. Particular...
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
53match
#5 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
It can be very difficult to accommodate some older individuals on the prison estate. Steps taken by some prisons to develop specific wings or units for older prisoners are welcome, though the variability of individual needs should be considered. Good practice around the accommodation of older prisoners should be shared more widely. Ageing prison population 45 We recommend...
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
53match
#4 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
We are concerned that HMPPS is not consistently fulfilling its duties towards older and disabled prisoners, as required by the Equality Act 2010. These prisoners should not be housed in establishments where the physical design prevents them receiving equitable treatment. In its response to this report, the Government should set out what processes are in place to ensure...
Matched on
terms: prisoner
Committee recommendation
53match
#1 - 5th Report - Ageing prison population
A clear definition of the older prisoner is necessary for establishing a more strategic approach to the cohort and the ageing prison population. We do not take a view on what that definition should be, but whatever age threshold is used should be based on firm evidence, and we encourage the MoJ to keep definitions used under review....
Matched on
terms: prisoner
IMB recommendation
53match
Sudbury (2020)
Prisoners with physical and mental health disabilities are sometimes disadvantaged, in terms of accessing employment and educational opportunities within the prison. How does the prison plan to address this?
Matched on
terms: prisoner
IMB recommendation
53match
Manchester (2021)
The Board has also observed a case of a prisoner with learning difficulties and would like to clarify what the provisions are for such prisoners? The prisoner has learning difficulties and very low IQ and has been waiting for a suitable facility for over a year whilst being managed between healthcare and segregation units in the jail.
Matched on
terms: prisoner
IMB recommendation
53match
Garth (2021)
There is a growing number of older prisoners, many of whom are in need of mobility and other aids. Presently there is confusion about who should provide these aids and this matter needs urgent attention because it impacts increasingly upon budgets.
Matched on
terms: prisoner
IMB recommendation
53match
Foston Hall (2022)
Carers for disabled prisoners who need help to prepare for bed are unable to enter the establishment after 7pm (see paragraph 6.4.3)
Matched on
terms: prisoner
IMB recommendation
53match
Foston Hall (2023)
Disabled prisoners have not been able to access upper floor classrooms, which prevents their participation in the full range of education provision. When will there be a solution?
Matched on
terms: prisoner
IMB recommendation
53match
Durham (2024)
Last year we asked, ‘What plans does the Prison Service have to improve the number of accessible cells for ageing or disabled prisoners?’ What investment do you intend to make within a reasonable time scale to improve prison experience for disabled prisoners?
Matched on
terms: prisoner
IMB recommendation
53match
Ashfield (2024)
With the large number of elderly prisoners in the custodial estate (particularly in prisons such as Ashfield), cases of dementia and terminal illness requiring 24-hour care are increasing. The specific needs of these prisoners cannot be adequately met in normal prison conditions. What plans does the Prison Service have for addressing this issue through the creation of special...
Matched on
terms: prisoner
IMB recommendation
53match
Stocken (2025)
With the ageing prison population, when are more cells suitable for those with disability or mobility issues going to be made available? Even on the new wing opened last year, there are no ‘disabled’ cells, only two ‘low mobility’ cells, which can’t accommodate a hospital bed.
Matched on
terms: disability
Committee recommendation
53match
#18 - Warm Home Discount scheme excludes high-energy-using vulnerable individuals from vital support
The Department said that the “biggest item of support” available to mitigate high energy prices this winter for vulnerable consumers, mainly those on benefits such as pension credit, is the Warm Home Discount scheme,47 which provides a £150 discount to eligible consumers.48 But certain vulnerable individuals like those with chronic conditions or disabilities that mean they are higher...
Matched on
terms: support
IMB recommendation
52match
Bristol (2021)
What initiatives – for example, training for prison staff – are planned to improve outcomes for prisoners with neurodivergent conditions, which, as we have observed and a recent review outlined, impacts their ability to engage?
Matched on
terms: prisoner