HMP Full Sutton

Name of lead inspector: Sheila Willis, Ofsted Inspector

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Inspection dates: 20 to 22 September 2022

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Address:

Moor Lane Full Sutton York YO41 1PS Monitoring visit: HMP Full Sutton, 20 to 22 September 2022

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Context and focus of visit

The purpose of the visit is to evaluate the progress that leaders and managers have made in rectifying the weaknesses identified at the most recent visit by Ofsted. This could be an inspection or a progress monitoring visit. This monitoring visit was undertaken as part of the arrangements outlined in the ‘Handbook for inspecting education, skills and work activities in prisons and young offender institutions’ especially the section entitled ‘Monitoring visits’. The focus of this visit is on the themes set out below. Ofsted undertook this monitoring visit in its own right, without accompanying His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP).

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Reasonable progress

Since the previous inspection, two years ago, leaders and managers have extended the range of education provision and the levels of courses they provide. Prisoners can now study courses in art, business studies and catering up to level 2, and an award in education and training at level 3. Functional skills qualifications in English and mathematics can be studied from entry level to level 2. The number of prisoners on Open University (OU) and distance learning courses has increased.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have mandated that prisoners achieve a level 1 qualification in English and mathematics as entry criteria for some skilled and better paid work. This has created extra demand and has led to waiting lists for English and mathematics courses. Leaders and managers have changed the way the courses are taught. Previously, prisoners with different levels could join courses at any time. Now, prisoners with the same attainment level are grouped together and study more frequently over a shorter period of time. This approach has improved both retention and the achievement of qualifications. It is helping to reduce waiting lists as more prisoners achieve their qualification more quickly and therefore places for new prisoners become available more frequently.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have a clearly defined plan to increase the number of activity places in prison industries. However, they acknowledge that currently there are not enough activity places for all prisoners to be occupied fully. This has been exacerbated by the recently introduced regime lockdowns because of prison staff shortages. Monitoring visit: HMP Full Sutton, 20 to 22 September 2022

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers have only recently restarted face-to-face inductions. The Virtual Campus, available on a large number of computers across the establishment, is used well to record the career and personal goals agreed at guidance interviews.

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Reasonable progress

The information, advice and guidance (IAG) service is now fully functioning and effective following a period of closure during the pandemic and a change in the contractor last summer. All new arrivals have a scheduled IAG interview to establish their career and personal goals and prisoners can decide if they wish to have further support.

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Reasonable progress

Prisoners that engage in the service are seen frequently. Many prisoners have long custodial sentences and the IAG rightly focuses on settlement and using their time in custody effectively. Advisors skilfully discuss activities that will help the prisoner settle into the prison. Together, they set and agree achievable and realistic personal and skill development targets. Leaders and managers make good use of established links with other agencies in the prison to refer prisoners for additional advice, as needed. Subsequent IAG meetings effectively review progress towards, and achievement of, the prisoner’s targets. However, too many prisoners have not yet received any IAG support. Advisors have prioritised the prisoners they work with to reduce the backlog. Peer mentors, who are working toward a level 3 advice and guidance qualification, support the service effectively.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and managers communicate well and regularly with prisoners. A regular newsletter, informs prisoners about the regime and activities, including job vacancies. As vacances arise in work, they are advertised in the newsletter and all prisoners have the opportunity to apply making the process equitable.

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Reasonable progress

Leaders and mangers have improved education facilities and accommodation since the previous inspection. Prisoners now study in a professional and learning focused environment where staff set clear expectations. Prisoners respond well to this and apply themselves to their studies. Monitoring visit: HMP Full Sutton, 20 to 22 September 2022 In education, teachers ensure that prisoners develop and understand the essential knowledge and skills that they require in the subject they are studying. When prisoners have mastered these, teachers introduce activities that require prisoners to apply and build on this knowledge in more complex activities. As a result, the large majority of prisoners make good progress and gain the knowledge and skills that they need to achieve their qualification. A high proportion achieve their qualification and progress to higher-level courses or gain work in prison industries.

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Reasonable progress

Education managers deploy mentors effectively to support the delivery of the education curriculum. Leaders and managers have ensured that all mentors hold a mentoring qualification and either have or are working towards a teacher support qualification in order to equip them better for their supporting roles.

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Reasonable progress

Prisoners taking distance learning and OU courses receive good support from education staff to undertake research and to make good progress in gaining the knowledge they need to achieve their higher-level qualifications.

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Reasonable progress

In the majority of prison workshops such as the logistics warehouse, textiles and contract services, prisoners engage well in their activities. They gain and apply new vocational knowledge and skills and good employment related attitudes and behaviours. However, in a minority of prison industries, for example the Ministry of Defence netting workshop, prisoners do not engage well in the routine tasks required to complete the work and are demotivated. They do not develop new knowledge or skills that would help them obtain work in the future.

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Reasonable progress

Wing cleaners keep the accommodation units clean and well maintained. Staff ensure that food servery workers achieve appropriate food hygiene and industrial cleaning qualifications to support their role. However, although prisoners are largely productive there is not enough work to keep them fully occupied.

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Reasonable progress

There are still limited opportunities for prisoners working in prison industries to take qualifications to accredit the skills that they are developing formally. Too few prisoners engage with recording the practical and work-related skills that they develop. Monitoring visit: HMP Full Sutton, 20 to 22 September 2022 regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Reasonable progress

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T: 0300 123 1231 Textphone: 0161 618 8524 E: enquiries@ofsted.gov.uk W: www.gov.uk/ofsted

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