HMP Featherstone – improved safety but breakdown in offender management
The inspection of HMP Featherstone, a category C training prison near Wolverhampton, found a safer prison with a reasonably good regime. However, its 661 prisoners were let down by poor offender management which limited their opportunities to progress.
Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons, said:
“The impressive work leaders had undertaken to reduce the supply of drugs had led to large falls in violence, despite the regime being far more open with more prisoners in activities and work than we have seen in recent inspections of similar prisons.”
More prisoners than at the last inspection reported feeling safe at Featherstone, and violence against staff and between prisoners had decreased consistently and significantly. Good work had been done to reduce the flow of illicit substances. Levels of self-harm were lower than at our last inspection and against comparator prisons, although waits for secure hospital places were long and prisoners in mental health crisis were being located on segregation, which was concerning.
Time out of cell was much better than in similar prisons, and leaders showed ambition in reopening activities after COVID-19 restrictions. Senior staff also had a clear vision for the development of the education curriculum which reflected a recent needs analysis. However, staff shortages meant the curriculum was too narrow and there was no strategy to improve prisoners’ English and maths skills.
Mr Taylor expressed concern about poor rehabilitation:
“Senior leaders… had not paid enough attention to offender management and the unit was not operating effectively. There were examples of poor leadership in the unit and a staff group that lacked direction or support.”
There was a shortage of prison offender managers and prisoners were not able to routinely meet with them. Public protection arrangements were poor, and only four prisoners had completed an accredited programme to address their offending behaviour in the previous year. Despite the number of releases doubling since the last inspection, there was only one resettlement worker to plan for the release of around 30 prisoners a month.
Mr Taylor said:
“There is much to be optimistic about Featherstone where, if the current senior leadership team remains in place and staff can be retained, there is every reason to believe that this prison can continue to improve.”
Notes to editors
- Read the HMP Featherstone report, published on 31 August 2022.
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
- HMP Featherstone is a closed adult male category C training and resettlement prison.
- At the time of this inspection, the prison held 661 prisoners.
- Inspectors identified two examples of notable positive practice during this inspection.
- This inspection took place on 9 and 16–20 May 2022.
- Please contact media@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.