https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk en-us 2016-11-14 05:46:17 UTC 2025-11-21 06:26:05 UTC hello@padlet.com amberjrbancroft https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137269625 Throughout the report, the findings showed the main themes were safety, accountability, respect, activities, removal and release. The report shows this as it talks about concerns about safety, particularly brought forward by female detainees, as well as a reports about inappropriate sexual behaviour and an issue where ''one incident a member of staff had used excessive force and was subsequently suspended'' (Nick Hardwick, Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre Report, 2015, pg 15). This also brought forward the theme of accountability,  who is held accountable for poor practices, as well as who is in charge of attempting to fulfil recommendations given by the Chief Prison Inspector, Nick Hardwick. 

The report also brought forward the themes of respect, which talks about the level of cleanliness in public areas and detainees rooms, awareness and usage of equality and diverse, due to the diverse nature of the religions and nationalities of detainees, as well as the quality of health care and pharmacy services available.

Activities were also brought up, discussing the quality, range and availability of recreational activities provided for both men and women, as well as the advertisement of them to detainees to give them awareness. Removal and release is a theme centred around the facilities and procedures used while going through the processes of either removing or releasing detainees from the centre, including the   health assessment performed before release and support available for detainees needs before they leave.]]> 2016-11-14 05:55:34 UTC https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137269625 amberjrbancroft https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137269703 2016-11-14 05:57:17 UTC https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137269703 amberjrbancroft https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137271507 In this theme, the report talks about the fact that a third of detainees were transported over night, this being unacceptable due to the uncomfortable nature of this for detainees, which the inspector made a previous recommendations to drastically reduce the practice of this, not yet achieved as according report, therefore brought over to work towards achieving. Despite this, most detainees reported that the staff escorting them treated the with respect during the time spent with them.

Reports about feeling unsafe in the centre have increased since the last report due to there being an increase in violence, despite its low level nature. Little could be recommended to improve this, apart from the continuation of keeping the level of security personnel in proportion to number of detainees in the centre.

In terms of early days of arrival, it was found that the reception area was kept clean and comfortable, with two screening rooms for females, two rooms for families, though there was not enough translated information available to detainees. They reported long waits for detainees to be seen on arrival, many still aboard escort vehicles, as well as female reception staff being redeployed in other areas of the centre to carry out gender specific jobs, due to the low level of female Detainee Custody Officer's (DCO).

It was highlighted more female staff are needed to be employed, as many female detainees felt uncomfortable due to having screenings carried out by male nurses and nightly welfare checks carried out by male staff.

Self harm and suicide were high risk, due to detainees displaying high levels of personal crisis or previous regular self-harm. It was highlighted that a good amount of support was given in supervision, but counselling sessions should be made more available to detainees, as well as the need for a reduction in male staff giving constant supervision to female detainees.]]> 2016-11-14 06:24:27 UTC https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137271507 amberjrbancroft https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137273731 Accountability, though not a highly talked about theme in the report, it was shown that this is still an important theme due to the fact that accountability is necessary when working with service users.

The report showed that when incidents occurred, staff involved were held suitably held accountable for their actions, or looked into to ensure the safety of both staff and detainees. In terms of the fulfilment of recommendations, in terms of staffing and changes in practice, it would be under the direction and supervision of managers to ensure they are carried out, with the staff being accountable for following directions and taking training to improve their knowledge and ability to work with detainees equally, as well as better understanding of the diverse nature of the detainees.]]> 2016-11-14 06:52:01 UTC https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137273731 amberjrbancroft https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137274573 Throughout this theme it talks about accessibility and availability of facilities, cleanliness, staff and detainee interaction and equality and diversity throughout interactions and resources. Accommodation was found to be well maintained, along with communal areas, though it was decided that it was unnecessary to lock these at 9:30pm. Though despite this it was found that many detainees did not find the units quiet enough to sleep in, showing lack of respect for those trying to sleep in the units, giving the need for the recommendation of working on sound control late at night in the units.

The management of equality and diversity within the centre, along with the identification of protected characteristics and action plans were described as sub-par and needed further work around them, so to further improve work between detainees and staff. More forums were needed for protected groups other than different nationalities, so to include pregnant women, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members of the community, detainees with disabilities, along with other protected characteristics, so to promote respect among detainees, staff as well as inclusion.

Upon review of faith services available to detainees, detainees feedback showed high amounts of positive comments, though women were found to be more positive than men about their access to religious leaders. All major beliefs were provided for, boasting the ''Best facilities we have seen'' (Nick Hardwick, 2015, pg 44).
 
Complaints were well dealt with, giving easy access to complaint forms, though many highlighted issues with staff conduct, though no reasons for this were found. This could be linked with the fact that Yarl's Wood suffers with high amounts of staff shortages, which has led to a decline in health care provisions available to detainees. There were large amounts of complaints around this, highlighting the poor access and quality of health services, as well as the delay on receiving medication, increasing the risk of detainees suffering severe health issues and/or discomfort. Along with this, support for those with mental health issues was below standards due to low availability.

Many detainees complained that there was little variety to the food catered to them, giving little cultural diversity in their menus. In addition to this, there was no opportunity for detainees to have access to the kitchen to cook their own food so to make up for the lack options on the menu.]]> 2016-11-14 07:03:14 UTC https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137274573 amberjrbancroft https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137275115  The centre had increased the time for free movement of detainees and the number of paid jobs. The range of activities was adequate to meet the needs of detainees staying at the centre for shorter periods and recreational activities were good. Many activities were well attended by detainees. Managers had not evaluated and reviewed the activities appropriately to ensure they met both the learning and therapeutic needs of detainees. The quality of the English provision for speakers of other languages required improvement. Access to computers linked to the internet was good throughout the centre. The library services were good and the gym and sports facilities met most fitness needs. 

]]> 2016-11-14 07:09:50 UTC https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137275115 amberjrbancroft https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137275174 In this area it was reported the the welfare officers provided gave good support and assistance to detainees, receiving positive feedback from detainees on their practice, though due to staffing shortages, access to this was very limited. This also meant that there was little to no provision of this in the evenings and over the weekends. Due to the limited access, many new arrivals were not routinely seen by a welfare officer, therefore not receiving an initial needs assessment, as was written procedure.

Visitors are provided comfortable accommodation while visiting with their loved ones, though access to refreshments during the visits needed further improving, so to improve the time spent between visitors and detainees. The centre also provides a befrienders scheme, which allows detainees to apply for someone to come visit the to talk to, as well as gain another form of support if they feel they need or want it.

All detainees are issued with a mobile phone upon arrival, though not all were able to transfer contact details, leaving them without contacts to family and friends. Detainees also are allowed access to the internet to find any resources they wanted, but had no access to social media, for example skype. This was found unnecessary and the centre was given the recommendation to give detainees access to social media, so to provide another platform for them to contact loved ones and gain support.

 The inspector carried out interviews with women who had been released, inquiring into their care and services they were provided, where it was found that many still had continuing mental health problems. This could be due to the reported fearfulness they felt after staying in the detention centre for variable amounts of time.

Due to shortages in staff, may detainees didn't receive support in planning for their removal or release on their first day at the detention centre as per procedure, nor did many receive regular support before they were discharged from their detention. This leaves many detainees without clear direction for the future, either for their impending removal or release, or after their discharge from Yarl's Wood. This again leads to the importance of aiming to employ more staff, so that following policies and procedures for staff becomes more feasible, therefore providing better care and support to the detainees.

Hibiscus Initiatives (http://hibiscusinitiatives.org.uk/index.php/project/international-resettlement/) is an organisation who work with many people from different cultures who have entered the UK illegally, are starting an asylum application or had theirs rejected, or are facing deportation due to receiving a criminal conviction of some form. They assist Yarl's Wood detainees with international resettlement, giving them support in the lead up to their removal or release from the centre. Despite this, not all detainees removed have been given means in which to reconnect with communities and/or reach their final destination in the safest manner possible.
Many links between community organisations and the centre were underdeveloped, therefore giving detainees difficulty in finding ways to get in contact with them.

Upon leaving the centre, detainees are suppose to receive any medication they need, along with a medical discharge summary, but due to stretched availability, the continuity of any further care and support for wider health needs had not been regularly seen to.]]> 2016-11-14 07:10:22 UTC https://padlet.com/amberjrbancroft/fy5hlrnqembk/wish/137275174