Staff training and development

HMP/YOI Stoke Heath faced significant challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a restricted regime with prisoners locked in cells for extended periods, impacting their wellbeing and rehabilitation. Despite this, the IMB found the prison to be safe, with well-led healthcare services and positive staff-prisoner relationships. Key concerns include severe funding cuts to education and vocational training, an inadequate heating system, and the detrimental impact of the restrictive regime and blended learning on purposeful activity and rehabilitation.

HMYOI Wetherby faced significant challenges during the reporting year, including persistent staffing shortages which severely impacted the regime, leading to limited time out of cell, particularly in evenings. The Board noted concerning levels of violence, self-harm, and the continued problem of weapon creation. Additionally, there were unacceptable delays in transferring young people with complex mental health needs and significant evidence of racism. Despite these challenges, the Board commended positive staff-young person relationships, good physical healthcare provision, and welcome investments in the estate and engaging educational programs.

Aylesbury YOI, operating with a reduced population of 209 due to special measures, successfully improved its safety and operational performance, leading to the withdrawal of its special measures status. Despite positive developments like improved staff-prisoner relationships and infrastructure upgrades, significant concerns persist regarding the amount of time prisoners spend locked in cells, the quality of purposeful activity, and ongoing staffing and estate issues. The report also highlights challenges in addressing equality and diversity, and the impact of long segregation stays on young prisoners' wellbeing.

HMP Oakwood navigated the COVID-19 pandemic under a strict 22-23 hour lockdown regime, with staff showing exemplary commitment in maintaining a safe environment and humane treatment. Despite these efforts, the regime severely limited education, purposeful activity, and access to services, leading to concerns about sentence progression and mental health impacts. Key issues included the poor performance of the education provider Novus, persistent problems with prisoner property transfers, and challenges in managing transfers of vulnerable prisoners without appropriate medical information or COVID-19 testing.

HMP Bristol successfully managed Covid-19, implementing strong infection control and a good vaccination programme. The prison saw significant improvements in accommodation and the general environment, alongside a reduction in self-harm and violence. However, the Board remains concerned about inconsistent key work delivery, staffing shortfalls, persistent issues with disability access, and the appropriate placement of vulnerable prisoners.

Despite a severely restricted Covid-19 regime, HMP/YOI Brinsford is deemed a safe prison where prisoners are treated fairly. While incidents of violence, self-harm, and substance misuse have reduced due to lockdown, persistent issues include delays in transferring prisoners with mental health needs and an education contract that largely failed to meet prisoner requirements for much of the reporting period.

HMYOI Werrington operated with significant challenges during the reporting year, marked by the ongoing pandemic, major refurbishment, and a sharp increase in violence and disruption in the latter months. The Board raised serious safety concerns, noting restricted time out of room and staff shortages led to inhumane treatment. While healthcare was proactive and efficient, education struggled amidst disruptions, and the Board highlighted issues with the use of Rule 49 and long remand waiting times.

HMP/YOI Thorn Cross experienced a challenging year due to the pandemic and staffing issues but maintained a safe and humane environment. The Board found the prison's rehabilitative culture and healthcare provision to be strong, with positive staff-prisoner relationships. Key concerns include budget pressures, delays in high-risk transfers, persistent property issues, and the need to improve data collection on protected characteristics and reduce absconds.

This national IMB report covers Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) in England from June 2020 to August 2021, a period heavily shaped by the Covid-19 pandemic. While some positive developments were noted, such as improved reception processes and generally lower self-harm, significant concerns persisted. These included limited time out of cell, insufficient education, and critical delays in mental health transfers and post-release support from local authorities, all exacerbated by pandemic restrictions.

HMP Woodhill faced significant challenges during the reporting year, primarily driven by severe staffing shortages which restricted the regime and impacted prisoner safety, wellbeing, and access to services. While there were positive efforts in areas like Covid-19 response and family contact initiatives, high levels of violence, prolonged segregation, and inadequate progression opportunities remained key concerns. The IMB judges that the prison requires improvement, particularly in addressing staffing, regime delivery, and resettlement support.

Dungavel IRC was well-managed by both GEO and Mitie throughout 2021 despite COVID-19 challenges, treating residents fairly and safely. Healthcare provision was good, and a relaxed regime with ample activities was maintained due to low resident numbers. Key concerns included IMB member recruitment, high CSU temperatures, the need for a disability officer, and unresolved issues like staff negotiation training and parking.

HMP/YOI Swinfen Hall, a YOI and Category C training prison, held 583 prisoners during the reporting year. The Board noted positive progress in safety initiatives and equality, diversity, and inclusion. However, significant concerns remain regarding slow responses to prisoner property and complaints, insufficient purposeful activity places, and delays in offender management. Healthcare provision, particularly night cover and mental health staffing, also raises concerns.

HMP/YOI Stoke Heath maintained a safe and positive environment during the reporting year ending March 2022, despite ongoing Covid challenges. Key positives included improved in-cell telephony, good routine GP access, and declining use of force. However, significant concerns persist regarding the slow restoration of the key worker scheme, inadequate vocational training and resettlement support, and persistent delays in dental care and access to mental health beds.

HMP Wormwood Scrubs experienced a slow return to normal regime during the reporting year ending May 2022, impacted by Covid-19 restrictions and persistent staff shortages. The Board noted some improvements in reception and healthcare provision but raised significant concerns regarding the poor quality of food, high number of cancelled hospital appointments, and long delays for mental health transfers. Key challenges included disproportionate use of force against Black prisoners, a largely closed library and depleted education, and a patchy key worker scheme.

HMP Berwyn continues to be a safe establishment, though it faces significant challenges from staffing shortages, which impact regime delivery, purposeful activity, and key work. The Board notes improvements in resettlement outcomes and a reduction in serious assaults, alongside robust use of force data collection. Key concerns remain the long waiting times for dental care and mental health transfers, as well as the poor timeliness in responding to prisoner complaints.

HMP Lindholme successfully transitioned to a full regime post-Covid, with many prisoners feeling safe, though issues like overcrowding and double-occupancy cells persist. Healthcare needs are generally met, but access challenges remain. The Board highlights concerns regarding property issues, the complaints system, and the need for improved resettlement and IPP prisoner progression.

This report covers the London Short-Term Holding Facilities at Heathrow and City Airports, and reporting facilities Becket and Eaton House for the reporting year ending January 2023. The Board found that while holding rooms generally provide a safe environment and most inductions were done well, significant concerns persist around excessive lengths of stay, inadequate facilities, and lack of access to internet and medication. Recommendations target the Minister, Home Office, Border Force, Mitie Care & Custody, and Clearsprings to address these issues, many of which are repeated from previous years.

HMP Five Wells, a Category C prison, opened in February 2022 and housed 1200 prisoners by March 2023, below its operational capacity of 1680. The IMB noted successes such as positive visitor feedback and streamlined safeguarding, but raised significant concerns including widespread illicit items, severe staffing shortages, and numerous design flaws in the new build. Key areas needing development involve consistent regime application, improved food and canteen services, and the re-establishment of resettlement-focused programmes like ROTL.

HMP Littlehey is a Category C training prison for men convicted of sexual offenses, holding 1,171 prisoners. The Board commended the prison for its generally safe environment, compassionate end-of-life care, and excellent PE regime. Key concerns include persistent overcrowding due to shared cells, long waiting times for specialist healthcare, and significant issues with managing prisoner property transfers between prisons. The report also highlights the over-representation of Black and Muslim prisoners in adjudications and use of force incidents, and ongoing problems with heating infrastructure and the use of temporary freezers.

The Independent Monitoring Board at HMP Guys Marsh noted positive developments including sufficient organisational support for safety, the appointment of a neurodiversity support manager, and a seamless transition to a new healthcare provider. However, significant concerns remain regarding persistent drug and alcohol use driving violence, ineffective risk management plans, and unacceptably high prisoner-on-prisoner assaults. The Board also highlighted issues with accommodation standards, a long dental waiting list, and underutilised education and work provisions.

HMP/YOI Isis, a YOI and Category C training prison, experienced a marked increase in violence and self-harm during 2023, attributed partly to a younger demographic and increased prisoner mixing. Staffing shortages and a high number of 'ineffective' staff consistently impacted regime delivery, education, and healthcare access. The Board highlighted persistent concerns with property management, cell cleanliness, and the limited range of rehabilitation programmes.

HMP High Down, a Category C training and resettlement prison, experienced significant increases in assaults and illicit item finds during 2023, raising serious safety concerns. Staffing shortages in key work and the Offender Management Unit severely impacted regime delivery and prisoner progression. While improvements were noted in mental health transfer times and family contact, persistent issues with property loss, poor shower conditions, and limited purposeful activity for prisoners, particularly vulnerable ones, remained key challenges.

The IMB's report for Kent Coast STHF (WJF, KIU, Manston) for 2023 highlights commendable staff empathy and improved medical provisions. However, it raises significant concerns regarding the lack of clear information for detainees about their processing and length of stay, inadequate privacy for interviews, and substandard conditions in isolation units and sleeping arrangements. The Board also noted issues with facility maintenance and the inconsistent receipt of vital monitoring reports.

The Gatwick IRC experienced a deterioration in safety during 2023, marked by increased violence, assaults on staff, and a rise in use of force incidents, partly attributed to a changing detainee population. Key safeguards for vulnerable individuals, such as Rule 34 and Rule 35 assessments, were found to be insufficient or subject to unacceptable delays. The report highlighted significant concerns regarding inadequate mental health provision, unfair regime practices including prolonged lock-in times, and a lack of effective pathways for release for detainees granted bail.

The IMB report for Gatwick Pre-Departure Accommodation for 2023 highlights concerns regarding the detention of four families, all of whose removal attempts failed. The Board questions the fairness and humanity of the process, particularly noting the trauma to children and callous treatment of a pregnant mother. Key recommendations include the closure of the PDA and prohibiting the detention of pregnant women.

The IMB report for Heathrow IRC (2023) highlights increasing safety concerns, including a rise in self-harm (180 incidents), assaults (131 detainee-on-detainee, 54 on staff), and drug finds (104). The Board expresses significant concerns over the detention of mentally unfit individuals, the dilapidated infrastructure, and the misuse of segregation units. While health needs are generally met, staffing shortages and delayed Rule 35 responses remain problematic. The report also notes repeated concerns about prolonged detention times and the need for improved resettlement pathways for those on bail.

HMP Bullingdon, a local and resettlement prison, experienced high overcrowding and staffing challenges, with a significant proportion of inexperienced officers. While physical health services were generally good and some educational outcomes improved, violence and drug finds remained high, and mental health provision, particularly counselling, was inadequate. The COVID-19 pandemic severely restricted the regime, leading to prolonged cell confinement, but the prison successfully prevented widespread infection. Persistent issues include inadequate reception facilities for vulnerable prisoners, property loss, and maintenance backlogs, while resettlement outcomes remain patchy.

HMP Dartmoor, a Category C training prison, faces significant challenges due to uncertainty about its 2023 closure, leading to under-investment in infrastructure and impacting staff morale. The COVID-19 pandemic severely restricted the regime, reducing time out of cell and exacerbating mental health issues, despite staff efforts to maintain safety and welfare. Key concerns include inadequate mental health provision, substance misuse, and deficiencies in resettlement support, as Dartmoor is not funded as a dedicated resettlement prison.

The IMB report for HMP Rye Hill (April 2020 – March 2021) details the prison's operation under COVID-19 restrictions, maintaining a safe and humane environment with commendations for case management and a prompt vaccination program. Key challenges included the significant impact of restrictions on IPP prisoner progression, insufficient mental health transfer places, and the need for broader education courses. The report also raised concerns about equality monitoring, the high threshold for upholding discrimination complaints, and ongoing difficulties with resettlement accommodation and Probation Service arrangements for released prisoners.

The reporting year was dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, during which HMP Peterborough (Women) managed the emergency well, leading to significant improvements in safety outcomes. However, the restrictive regime severely impacted women's wellbeing and rehabilitation. Key concerns remain regarding national support for complex needs women, the effectiveness of the key worker system, and the need to adapt the regime better to women's specific needs.

HMP Winchester successfully navigated the Covid-19 pandemic, preventing internal outbreaks and earning commendation for its management. Despite this, the prison continues to face significant challenges including high levels of violence, severe regime restrictions, and ongoing issues with overcrowding and the dilapidated prison estate. While healthcare provision has improved and ACCT cases have reduced, the IMB raises multiple concerns regarding the inhumane out-of-cell time, inadequate facilities for vulnerable prisoners, and a lack of funding for critical improvements.

HMP Birmingham has shown significant improvement in safety and stability under new leadership, making it the safest it has been in years, despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Healthcare provision is good, and peer support systems are strong. However, key concerns persist regarding the inhumane nature of prolonged in-cell lock-up, the high levels of use of force, and persistent issues with long stays in segregation. Other areas needing development include support for homelessness on release, addressing learning difficulties, and ensuring equity in the IEP scheme.

HMP Ashfield is judged to be a well-managed Category C prison for sex offenders, maintaining high standards and humane treatment despite significant COVID-19 challenges. The prison effectively managed the pandemic, achieving low infection rates and progressively easing restrictions to maximize purposeful activity. Key concerns include persistent difficulties in securing suitable accommodation for released prisoners, a severe reduction in offending behaviour programme places, and issues with mental health support and equality and diversity monitoring.

The reporting year at HMP Buckley Hall (Aug 2020 - July 2021) was largely defined by Covid-19, leading to significant operational challenges and a restrictive regime. Despite these difficulties, the IMB judged the prison to be safe, with dedicated leadership and staff, and good healthcare provision. Key concerns persist regarding prisoner progression, funding for new initiatives, and some basic decency issues such as secure in-cell medication storage and shower quality.

HMP Wayland's reporting year was dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic, leading to a severely restricted regime with prisoners often locked in cells for up to 22 hours daily, and a virtual halt to education and purposeful activity. The Board raised significant concerns about critically low staffing levels and inexperience, alongside a substantial minority of prisoners feeling unsafe and declining trust in staff. While improvements were noted in use of force management and new drug detection methods, the Board struggled to monitor healthcare due to exclusion from meetings.

This report covers a year dominated by the Covid-19 pandemic at Aylesbury YOI, which saw a reduced prisoner population of around 209. Despite a severely curtailed regime and poor education provision, the prison maintained stability, low infection rates among prisoners, and provided daily showers and exercise. Key concerns include the lack of mental health beds, the weakening of the key worker scheme, and the risk that post-pandemic priorities will shift from prisoner outcomes to risk management as population numbers increase.

HMP Guys Marsh, a Category C training prison, navigated a challenging year (Dec 2020 – Nov 2021) under a restrictive "red regime" due to COVID-19. While recording no deaths in custody and a 20% drop in self-harm, concerns persisted regarding a significant increase in staff assaults, high mental health transfer waiting times, and problems with key working and purposeful activity due to staffing pressures and regime restrictions. The Board highlighted the need for improved staff retention, better IT systems, enhanced resettlement provisions, and a more consistent application of incentive schemes.

HMP Usk (Category C) and HMP Prescoed (Category D) operated under significant Covid-19 restrictions during the reporting period, leading to an atypical regime. Despite these challenges, the Board considers them to be safe, well-run prisons with low levels of violence and self-harm, effectively managed by staff. Key achievements include the early rollout of vaccinations and successful maintenance of off-site work placements for Prescoed prisoners, though concerns remain regarding education funding, OASys document quality, staffing retention, and telephone access.

HMP Swaleside experienced a challenging year (May 2021 - April 2022), marked by severe staff shortages, a restricted regime due to Covid-19, and a high number of deaths in custody and self-harm incidents. The Board highlighted significant concerns regarding staffing, the impact of new prisoner allocations, and the lack of essential equipment like body-worn cameras. Positive developments included excellent education provision, effective outreach services, and improvements in discrimination incident reporting, though overall challenges to prisoner welfare and safety persist.

The report covers HMP Erlestoke from April 2021 to March 2022, a period significantly impacted by Covid-19 restrictions that limited out-of-cell time. Despite challenges like staff shortages and high turnover, the Board found prisoners to be relatively safe, though violence increased and self-harm remained high. Key concerns include delays in transfers, inadequate mental health provision, and the slow pace of infrastructure improvements.

HMP Winchester, a complex local B/C category prison, continues to face significant challenges, including high levels of violence and self-harm, a restricted regime with prolonged cell confinement, and critical issues with its outdated building infrastructure. While staff efforts to provide humane treatment are commendable, severe staffing shortages and high turnover undermine consistency and effective key working. The IMB highlights persistent problems such as cell overcrowding, inadequate CCTV, and vermin infestation, which compromise safety and wellbeing despite some recent positive trends in violence reduction and effective pandemic management.

HMP Isle of Wight operated under a continued restricted regime in 2021 due to Covid-19, impacting daily life and increasing tensions. While the Board praised staff efforts and noted positive developments in healthcare, equality, and complaint handling, significant concerns persisted regarding the dilapidated laundry, unhygienic meal services, and underfunded estate repairs. Staffing shortfalls in mental health and probation services critically hampered prisoner support and progression, alongside challenges posed by the delayed transfer of Category C prisoners.

The IMB has grave concerns about HMYOI Werrington, deeming it unsafe for both young people and staff due to a significant increase in violence, including assaults and weapon making. Low staffing levels and sickness led to a severely restricted regime, particularly at weekends, with young people spending excessive time locked in their rooms. Education provision was inadequate, and staff-young person relationships deteriorated.

The IMB for HMP Wayland concludes that the prison continues to be failed by the Prison Service and the government across multiple areas, from infrastructure maintenance to adequate staffing and training. The report notes a decline in the quality and effectiveness of prisoner treatment, with key concerns including prisoner safety, deteriorating accommodation, and inadequate resettlement support. While some positive initiatives have begun, the Board finds that fundamental issues persist and require urgent, comprehensive intervention.

HMP Lincoln, a Category B prison, experienced a decrease in self-harm incidents and drug finds during the reporting period, alongside generally positive staff-prisoner relationships. However, significant concerns persist regarding the length and quality of maintenance work by Amey, and the inadequate access to specialist mental health facilities. Other key challenges include the impact of increasing operational capacity, difficulties for transient prisoners accessing education, issues with property transfers, and unsuitable infrastructure for vulnerable prisoners.

Dungavel House IRC maintained a safe and humane environment in 2022, with sufficient staffing and a positive staff-detainee relationship fostering a relaxed regime. While healthcare provision was good and significant efforts were made for purposeful activity, concerns persist regarding the uncertainty of detainees' futures and the need for improved roof access prevention. Repeated recommendations, such as staff negotiation training and CSU temperature control, remain ongoing issues.

HMP/YOI Hindley, a Category C training and resettlement prison for adult males and young adults, operated near its 600 operational capacity during the reporting period. The Board noted positive developments in leadership presence, communication, and some healthcare provision, which was rated good by HMIP. However, significant concerns persist, particularly regarding escalating violence, high self-harm rates (up 87%), and widespread drug availability. Persistent staff shortages lead to redeployment, impacting purposeful activity, key worker sessions, and overall regime delivery. The Board also highlights issues with outdated accommodation, delays in adjudications, and the need for improved support for complex mental health needs and disabled prisoners.

HMP Holme House, a Category C prison, experienced a challenging year ending December 2023, marked by increased violence, use of force, and significant issues with building disrepair and illicit items. While healthcare services notably improved and purposeful activity places expanded, staffing shortages impacted resettlement and Ofsted rated all five inspection areas as 'requires improvement'. The Board highlights the need for urgent attention to infrastructure, safety, and addressing the impact of a growing young adult population.

HMP Chelmsford, a category B local prison, faced significant challenges during the reporting year ending August 2024, particularly with overcrowding affecting 69% of its population and leading to poor conditions in older wings. While the prison saw a reduction in self-harm incidents towards the end of the year and staff were commended for managing gym facilities, use of force incidents increased, and access to healthcare remained a major concern with substantial waiting times. Processes for safeguarding prisoner property and approving telephone PINs were consistently problematic, hindering rehabilitation and family contact, although the introduction of the Launchpad system was a notable success.

HMP Kirkham faced unprecedented challenges in 2023, primarily due to the Temporary Presumptive Recategorisation Scheme (TPRS) which led to a significant influx of prisoners and placed immense pressure on staff, resources, and the prison's resettlement-focused regime. While the Board noted staff's resilience and improvements in some areas like healthcare waiting times and new facilities, key concerns included increased assaults, persistent illicit substance issues, and significant disruption to purposeful activities and resettlement services. Staffing shortages exacerbated these problems, leading to curtailment of activities and impacting crucial offender management processes.

Will the Governor arrange for refresher training for all prisoner-facing staff and implement arrangements for more effective monitoring of compliance and case management procedures? (See paragraph 4.2).

There continues to be a high proportion of staff with limited experience. In some instances, these staff have no experience of the prison regime before Covid-19. How will the Governor ensure that these staff receive appropriate training so that they can carry out their duties effectively?

Delivery of staff training e.g. suicide and self-harm (SASH) (4.2.6).

Address the backlog in staff training and particularly control and restraint (C&R), basic, refresher and advanced training.

In all these cases the solution must be to continue and intensify the programmes of in-house staff training and mentoring.

Is the Prison Service satisfied that training for new officers prepares them for the roles and tasks that will be expected of them? We are concerned about the length and content of training for new officers, outside aspects relating to security and control.

There continues to be a high proportion of new staff with limited experience. What further steps will the Governor take to ensure these officers receive further appropriate training to enable them to carry out their duties effectively?

The proportion of inexperienced staff has continued to increase. How does the Prison Service plan to improve the training of inexperienced staff?

The Board recommends reviewing the refresher training and mentoring with regard to pro-social modelling, de-escalation and neurodiversity awareness.

Given the high proportion of prisoners with mental ill health, will the Prison Service ensure the delivery of standalone mental health training for all officers?

How will the governor ensure that new officers and other staff receive the training and mentoring that they need to develop in their roles, especially when the proportion of experienced operational staff is so low? And what steps can she take to retain good recruits, recognising that many factors are outside her control?

The recruitment of new officers over the last two years has been welcome, but the prison has lost many experienced officers, and many current members of uniformed staff have relatively little experience of working in a prison environment (see above, description of the prison, 3.1.1). How will the prison service take steps to address the issue of retaining staff, both …

The increased number of uniformed officers during the last two years is very welcome, but it will take a long time to build up the amount of experience and knowledge that has been lost as a result of past staff cuts and subsequent attrition. How will the minister ensure that staff levels are maintained at an adequate level for the …

Will the Prison Service facilitate and fund staff training that has been missed or reduced due to the Covid-19 pandemic?

To arrange for the training for new Listeners to be arranged and completed as soon as possible (paragraph 4.2.5).

As a matter of some urgency support Governors to reduce the backlog in staff training and particularly C&R basic, refresher and advanced training.

To make prison sentences more purposeful, and to diminish reoffending rates, set higher requirements for basic training within the whole Prison Service.

Will HMPPS give priority to improving the training and support given to prison officers in their early years in post in order to halt the haemorrhaging of staff in the first five years after their appointment?

The Board recommends that prison officer training is reviewed to include deeper and more extensive training on key work and staff/prisoner relationships.

The IMB at Wayland can see no effective alternative to a request to the Minister to order a complete review of the initial and development training of prison officers.

The Board has seen examples of inadequacy of apprentice officer training and believes that training must at least result in those staff knowing what to expect when they arrive at their establishment. Shortage of trained staff exacerbates failings in this respect.

The Board would like to see provision of training to address the specific needs of female prisoners such as trauma-informed care, de-escalation and distraction techniques (5.3).

The Board is concerned about the number and experience of new staff on the house blocks. From observing some of the case notes of key worker sessions, the quality of the reporting varies. The Board suggests that senior managers look at putting further training in place.

What actions will be taken to develop managers and frontline staff to increase supervision and confidence so that staff/prisoner relationships improve?

There continues to be a high proportion of staff with limited experience. In some instances, these staff have no experience of the prison regime before Covid. How will the Governor ensure that these staff receive further appropriate training so that they can carry out their duties effectively?

The Board has raised before the inadequacy of basic apprentice officer training and believes that training must at least result in them knowing what to expect when they arrive at their establishment. Support for new officers has improved considerably at Swaleside, especially with the introduction of the mentoring system. However, this is no substitute for proper basic training.

What additional support can be made available to increase the number of qualified instructors, given that a lack of instructors has had an impact on available workshop spaces?

Recommend that Board Members are given some form of personal safety training.

Protect staff time to deliver key work and push for national resources, including training, to make this central to the regime and culture at Hewell.

Continue to train and develop the inexperienced staff to maintain a safe and respectful working environment for all.

There continues to be a high proportion of officers with limited experience. What further steps can the Governor take to ensure that these officers receive further appropriate training so that they can carry out their duties effectively?

To reduce the number of staff who are overdue control and restraint training.

Can the training available to prison officers be reviewed to develop more specialised skills for the wide variety of different needs represented in the prison population?

Ensure that suitable training and support is provided so that professional interpretation services are used effectively in communications with the detained men, particularly during critical safeguards such as initial screening, and Rule 34 and 35 appointments.

Can the Minister address concerns about the training provided for new staff, in particular their preparedness for communicating effectively and confidently with prisoners? The Board has seen examples of staff being hesitant in their dealings with prisoners. We have also heard comments from prisoners about this aspect of staff and prisoner relations, who feel that situations may be de-escalated or …

Put in place centrally funded, continuing support for the newly trained officers who begin work after just ten weeks’ foundation training. The Board welcomes the new recruits, but the short length of training they undergo is insufficient to meet the many challenges on the wing. In turn, new recruits lean too heavily on the more experienced staff and this diminishes …

What steps are being taken to mentor and support the professional development of new and recently recruited officers?

We therefore make a similar recommendation this year as we have done in previous years; that more focused staff training is needed for all staff. We would now add to that general call that this should especially be for those in the new induction unit. Staff of this unit should not believe that they can solve all the problems that …

The quality of new staff recruited centrally was often poor and training was inadequate. What steps are being taken to improve training and reject unsuitable candidates?

The inexperience of staff is compounded by the limited training they receive. This is not sufficient to commence employment. What steps will the Minister take to involve Governors in the recruitment process, and what is the rationale for the exclusion of Governors from the process?

Training should be strengthened for frontline staff, especially in Tinsley House, to help ensure that potentially under-age individuals are identified and feel able to challenge the age imputed to them (section 4.4.3).

To ensure all staff are trained and fully confident and competent in the governance, techniques and reporting requirements around use of force and rules 40 and 42.

Many of the induction meetings observed by Board members were of a low quality. The presentations were often unsympathetic and inconsistent, with inadequate slides and handouts. The Board was very disappointed that this counterproductive and poorly managed situation had continued, despite similar criticism in four previous annual reports.

Greater training/support is needed for POELTs to ensure that they carry out their jobs to the best of their abilities.

When will the Prison Service ensure that prison officers are given adequate training to deal with the different needs of these groups of prisoners?

The Board notes the continued issues regarding cover arrangements for education staff who are absent due to sickness (see paragraph 9.2), and continues to observe allocation delays, prisoners sent back to their cells, and class cancellations (see paragraph 9.3).

To introduce or renew practical and vocational contracts so that meaningful training and work that carries a recognised international qualification can be achieved – see section 7.2.

The Board asks the governor to look proactively to appointing a suitably qualified person to the kitchen staff, who can support prisoners in obtaining an NVQ qualification, as a positive outcome of the experience gained by working there.

[All holding rooms] The Detention Contractor should ensure that DCOs are trained so that they know which of the meals from different manufacturers are halal (para. 8.5).

[London Heathrow Airport] The Detention Contractor should ensure that DCOs use the Big Word interpretation service for inducting non-English speaking passengers and not just assume that passengers with a smattering of English really understand what they are being told (para. 4.9).