HM Prison Foston Hall

Reports

• NPM-uk-imb-safety1 Jan 2024

  4.1 Reception and induction • The volume of new receptions has grown significantly compared with the last reporting year. In 2023-2024, the figure was approximately 100 per month, and this year the figure has increased to around 146 per month. The IMB has observed that the reception department has, from time to time, appeared short staffed, resulting in a backlog of prisoner applications to access stored property. • The Board has seen a renewed focus on improving the experience and safety of • The Board has seen a renewed focus on improving the experience and safety of newly arrived prisoners. The reception area has been redesigned to make it more welcoming and to afford privacy for one-to-one screening on arrival. Additional staffing in the first night centre by early days in custody (EDiC) managers appears to have led to improved information sharing about the profile and history of new prisoners. • The IMB carried out a survey of short-sentenced and remand prisoners. It showed • The IMB carried out a survey of short-sentenced and remand prisoners. It showed that all prisoners had been offered a phone call, PIN credit (the phone credit placed on a prisoner’s PIN-linked phone account so they can make outgoing calls) and an emergency vape. Most had been helped by an orderly supporting prisoners in their early days at Foston and found this helpful. All said they felt safe, and none reported being bullied during their time on the first night centre. All prisoners were seen by [...]

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• NPM-uk-imb-purposeful-activity1 Jan 2024

  • Education at Foston Hall is provided by People Plus, which also took over the library contract during the reporting year. The education department is a welcoming area, with attractive up-to-date displays. Regular staff surveys with prisoners indicate that prisoners feel comfortable in the education department. They appreciate the knowledge and support of their tutors and feel that the courses studied are of real benefit to them. IMB conversations with prisoners support these findings. Some prisoners speak of initially feeling hostile towards, or nervous about, education, but then find that they enjoy it, with many keen to continue. During the past year, provision in English and maths has been extended and both Level 1 and Level 2 courses are now offered, giving opportunities for progression. • Peer mentors are used to support learners. They have told IMB members that they • Peer mentors are used to support learners. They have told IMB members that they enjoy their role and feel valued. • The Ofsted inspection earlier in the year found that the curriculum ‘did not meet the • The Ofsted inspection earlier in the year found that the curriculum ‘did not meet the needs of the population’ with regard to local and national employment opportunities, and this has been raised by prisoners, who complain of the limited range of courses available. Considerable efforts have been made to address this, but a significant real-terms budget cut in the autumn had an impact. • There has been a [...]

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• NPM-uk-imb-respect1 Jan 2024

  5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food From the Board’s observations, there are increasing problems with the quality and decency of accommodation, in particular: • D wing has many inadequacies, including its dormitory-style accommodation, poor toilet facilities for some cells and issues with temperature control. • The D wing downstairs showers have been out of action for over a year due to • The D wing downstairs showers have been out of action for over a year due to Legionella, despite ongoing efforts to resolve the problem. • The cell and corridor flooring of F wing has been damaged by ongoing water leaks • The cell and corridor flooring of F wing has been damaged by ongoing water leaks from underfloor pipes and the showers. The results are uneven floors, presenting health and safety risks and falling far short of decent accommodation, compounded by the unpleasant smell from the dampness. • The care and separation unit (CSU) has many inadequacies (see 5.2). • The care and separation unit (CSU) has many inadequacies (see 5.2). • In the IMB’s general prisoner survey, in November (Annex B, Table 4), the number of • In the IMB’s general prisoner survey, in November (Annex B, Table 4), the number of prisoners saying they had problems washing and drying their clothes was 20%, a significant improvement on 49% last year. Issues mentioned in the comments referred generally to arrangements for laundry, e.g. delays and clothes coming back damp or going missing, rather than machines not [...]

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• NPM-uk-imb-preparation-for-release1 Jan 2024

  • Accredited offending behaviour programmes are no longer available at HMP Foston Hall. The IMB understands that the low number of eligible prisoners made it unsustainable to deliver programmes in the establishment, and prisoners who meet the criteria are instead transferred to other establishments offering these. • Prisoners released on temporary licence (ROTL) have continued at the same rate • Prisoners released on temporary licence (ROTL) have continued at the same rate throughout the year, numbering 15 to 30 per month. Given the current pressures to transfer prisoners to non-reception prisons, it is unlikely that numbers on ROTL will increase. • Prisoners released on home detention curfew (HDC) continue at between zero and • Prisoners released on home detention curfew (HDC) continue at between zero and four per month, within the usual parameters, given the nature of the population. The IMB has observed that HDC releases have sometimes been delayed when there is no named community offender manager (COM) available to undertake the necessary checks on proposed release addresses. • Support for isolated prisoners (those who do not receive social visits) is provided by PACT staff, a charity that organises regular afternoon teas with games. These sessions are well attended and seem to be appreciated by prisoners. • PACT workers also organise 12 family days (which bring together prisoners and their • The pre-release team assesses immediate resettlement needs across eight key [...]

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