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Open female (Cat D) prison in York, Yorkshire and the Humber.
Background
HM Prison Askham Grange is a women's open category prison, located in Askham Richard village in North Yorkshire, England. The prison is run by His Majesty's Prison Service.
temporary licence and other resettlement activities. We judged that outcomes population accessing some form of release on temporary licence (ROTL). community, much of which was paid employment. Leaders had not yet been positions were vacant which impacted on delivery.
— UK IMB Annual Report (2024) —
Safety: 4.1 Reception and induction 4.1.1 Askham Grange receives prisoners from other prisons rather than from the courts. This usually enables Askham Grange to ensure that receptions are carefully planned. Reception arrangements are detailed, thorough and take full account of the particular needs of the individual. Newly arrived prisoners are given detailed information about how the prison operates, [...]
Respect: 5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food 5.1.1 Built in 1886 as a private family home, the house has been adapted to accommodate female prisoners in open conditions since 1947. As well as the main house, there is an annex with single occupancy rooms and a mother and baby unit. The accommodation is generally well maintained throughout. Prisoners who are not otherwise employed, may be allocated to work as [...]
Purposeful activity: 7.1.1 There is a strong focus on education and improving literacy at HMP/YOI Askham Grange and the library is part of this strategy. The library continues to encourage reading, starting at induction, where new prisoners are given a book in their room. They are then encouraged to attend the library and swap the book for one of their own choosing. 7.1.2 The well-stocked library is staffed by a [...]
Preparation for release: 7.3.1 The offender management unit (OMU) is responsible for ensuring that risk assessments are completed in a timely manner so that ROTL and release plans can be progressed. When there are delays to the process, it is often because information requested has not been received from outside agencies such as community offender managers (COMs) who play an important role in assessing risk. 7.3.2 [...]
Visiting
Booked online via the GOV.UK Prison Visits Booking system. Photo ID required. Visit frequency depends on the inmate's Incentives & Earned Privileges (IEP) level.
Mailing
Format: Prisoner Name & Number, HMP Askham Grange, Askham Richard, YO23 3FT. Cash not accepted — use Send Money to a Prisoner (GOV.UK).
Practical info
Its primary aim is to promote effective rehabilitation through release on temporary licence and other resettlement activities. We judged that outcomes population accessing some form of release on temporary licence (ROTL). Nearly half of the women had an education, skills or work placement in the employment skills developed through work was disappointing. (POMs) and key workers was very positive.
Known issues
Askham Grange remained a safe place to live, with no recorded incidents of violence since our last inspection in 2019. Leaders and managers had put in demeanour before they escalated into serious concerns or actual violence. more verbal abuse. In talking to women, they said this involved a very small
Higher risk than 0% of peer facilities in United Kingdom.
Capacity (beds)this: 130 · peers avg: 579 (78%)
Reports
NPM-uk-imb-purposeful-activity1 Jan 2024
7.1.1 There is a strong focus on education and improving literacy at HMP/YOI Askham Grange and the library is part of this strategy. The library continues to encourage reading, starting at induction, where new prisoners are given a book in their room. They are then encouraged to attend the library and swap the book for one of their own choosing. 7.1.2 The well-stocked library is staffed by a part-time librarian supported by two prisoners who work as library assistants. Opening hours are long and prisoners tend to go in on their breaks or in the evenings after work has finished. In addition to borrowing books, jigsaws, and DVDs, prisoners can read newspapers, spend quiet time, access minutes of meetings, read community notices issued by the prison and, should they wish to read them, there are copies of the IMB annual reports (both local and national). The library is a positive place to work and creating an inclusive culture where prisoners want to spend their time is key to it being well used. Small numbers of library books are also located throughout the prison for when access to the library is not available. 7.1.3 The library has a selection of large print books. There are also audiobooks and a stock of foreign language books. There are various initiatives to encourage prisoners to read, including a monthly book club, ‘blind date with a book’, ‘drop everything and read’ (this is a monthly activity where prisoners in education or vocational work are encouraged to stop [...]
4.1 Reception and induction 4.1.1 Askham Grange receives prisoners from other prisons rather than from the courts. This usually enables Askham Grange to ensure that receptions are carefully planned. Reception arrangements are detailed, thorough and take full account of the particular needs of the individual. Newly arrived prisoners are given detailed information about how the prison operates, including expected standards of behaviour and the opportunities which exist to promote healthy living, such as exercise classes, food choices and the services available via health professionals. 4.1.2 Newly arrived prisoners are made aware of the zero-tolerance policy in respect of illicit substances such as drugs and alcohol and that any breach of this policy may result in a return to closed conditions, subject to the findings of a risk escalation board. Although the use of cigarettes is forbidden on site, vaping is permitted in designated areas. 4.1.3 During the previous reporting year, the prison commissioned external experts to undertake a comprehensive review of the whole reception and induction process, with a focus on the extent to which the prison fully considers the individual needs of prisoners. As a result of that work, the induction material has been condensed to ensure that newly arrived prisoners are not overwhelmed with information. 4.2 Suicide and self-harm, deaths in custody 4.2.1 There was one recorded death in custody in 2024, deemed to be from natural causes. The IMB [...]
7.3.1 The offender management unit (OMU) is responsible for ensuring that risk assessments are completed in a timely manner so that ROTL and release plans can be progressed. When there are delays to the process, it is often because information requested has not been received from outside agencies such as community offender managers (COMs) who play an important role in assessing risk. 7.3.2 Another difficulty sometimes encountered occurs when prisoners are transferred into HMP/YOI Askham Grange with very short periods left to serve. This leaves OMU staff with little time to complete their pre-release work and reduces the opportunities for prisoners to take full advantage of the resettlement and work possibilities that they could otherwise have. 7.3.3 OMU staff are available for prisoners via drop-in sessions and specific appointments. --- 7.4.1 The importance of maintaining contact with family and friends is recognised, with visits, letters and phone calls all being utilised to enable continued support and wellbeing. The charity, Prison Advice and Care Trust (PACT), is contracted to work with the prison by liaising with families to promote positive contact between prisoners and their families. Additionally, based on their work, they contribute to release planning for prisoners. 7.4.2 The prison holds family days several times a year, and, despite the geographical problems for those who live in other parts of the country, these are generally well attended. These days give [...]
5.1 Accommodation, clothing, food 5.1.1 Built in 1886 as a private family home, the house has been adapted to accommodate female prisoners in open conditions since 1947. As well as the main house, there is an annex with single occupancy rooms and a mother and baby unit. The accommodation is generally well maintained throughout. Prisoners who are not otherwise employed, may be allocated to work as cleaners throughout the establishment and are an integral part of maintaining decent living conditions for everyone. There are relatively few concerns raised either through the complaints system or by application to the IMB, regarding accommodation. Of the 10 IMB applications regarding accommodation in the reporting year, eight were to do with problems with the television reception and one concerned a problem with heating, all of which were resolved. 5.1.2 HMP/YOI Askham Grange can accommodate prisoners with specific requirements (for example, those who require to be located ‘flat’ - that is, they are unable to manage stairs due to health/disability problems). There is also a ‘bed-sit’ where prisoners who may need some time to themselves because of illness, risk of self-harm, etc, may be placed for short periods of time and be monitored. 5.1.3 AMEY is responsible for general maintenance throughout the prison. Staffing has been an issue but, although there have been some delays, work has generally been completed within a reasonable time. 5.1.4 Catering is done ‘in house’ with food [...]
HMP & YOI Askham Grange is a women’s open prison on the outskirts of York.
Its primary aim is to promote effective rehabilitation through release on
temporary licence and other resettlement activities. We judged that outcomes
for women remained good across all of our healthy prison tests. However, with
the capacity to hold up to 128 prisoners it was disappointing to find that a
quarter of spaces were empty, which was a wasted opportunity in such an
important and highly effective prison.
The full purpose of the prison had been restored, with over three-quarters of the
population accessing some form of release on temporary licence (ROTL).
Nearly half of the women had an education, skills or work placement in the
community, much of which was paid employment. Leaders had not yet been
able to recruit a head of learning and skills and some teaching and training
positions were vacant which impacted on delivery. The poor recording of
employment skills developed through work was disappointing.
The prison was managed jointly with HMP & YOI New Hall and leadership
remained strong. Women arriving at the prison were supported and helped to
make the transition to living in open conditions. Promoting positive behaviour
was a leadership priority and fundamental to the culture of the prison. Incentives
to behave well were primarily promoted by access to ROTL and other
rehabilitative opportunities. Leaders returned few prisoners to closed conditions
and, when this was necessary, the decisions were appropriate and well
evidenced.
Askham Grange remained a safe place to live, with no recorded incidents of
violence since our last inspection in 2019. Leaders and managers had put in
place effective responses to signs of heightened risks from women. Staff were
knowledgeable about prisoners and were able to spot changes in mood and
demeanour before they escalated into serious concerns or actual violence.
However, our survey showed some significantly worse perceptions from
women, including more negative views about their treatment by staff, including
more verbal abuse. In talking to women, they said this involved a very small
number of staff who came across as rude and less caring, but it was a concern
that the actions of these few were undermining otherwise very good
relationships. Consultation with prisoners from protected and minority groups
had dwindled, and leaders had not collated, analysed or used data well enough
to identify potential disproportionality.
Health care provision and outcomes were generally very good and there was
excellent support to help women stay in touch with their family and friends. The
mother and baby unit (MBU) and Acorn House were exceptional examples of
this. There was good support for women who had experienced trauma,
including bereavement, and the help given by prison offender managers
(POMs) and key workers was very positive. Joint working between POMs, two
forensic psychologists, the family worker and two resettlement workers was
cohesive, supportive and effective. However, some of the weaknesses we
found at our last inspection in the recording, application and management of
child contact restrictions persisted.
We could not understand why women had to submit overly detailed and
prescriptive ROTL plans four weeks ahead of each home leave. It was clearly
causing women great fear and anxiety, to the point that some said they could
potentially cause a ROTL failure by not sticking to every little detail of the plan.
Resettlement planning for release was good but it was difficult to understand
why accommodation outcomes were not being measured in a far more robust
way to evidence longer-term housing after release.
Askham Grange continues to be a very high performing prison through solid
and clear leadership, supported by a community ethos and excellent joint
working. It is a shame that too few women are transferred there and HMPPS
