Recurring concern
Unreliable prison keyworker support scheme
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Request correctionFirst reported 2 Feb 2023•Latest report 6 Nov 2025
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the prison keyworker scheme and its dedicated controls, including appointment or allocation, required session frequency, delivery during staff absence or agency cover, staff understanding of responsibilities, compliance with national guidance, continuity and oversight of keyworker support.
Not included
- Excludes generic prison staffing shortages, supervision, welfare checks or mental-health support where no prison keyworker scheme deficiency is identified.
- Excludes the existing concern about allocating key workers to mental-health service users, which is a distinct role-allocation boundary rather than the prison keyworker scheme.
- Excludes ordinary prisoner care, case management or personal-officer duties that are not part of the named keyworker scheme.
- Excludes isolated missed sessions where no continuing deficiency in the prison keyworker scheme or its operating controls is asserted.
- Reports
- 5
- Individual concerns
- 6
- Date range
- 2023–2025
- Stated actions
- 13
Distinct published reports
A report can raise multiple concerns
First to latest report issue date
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
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Concerns raised2
Failure to carry out keyworker sessions as required
Lack of knowledge of the required frequency of keyworker sessions
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Prioritise vulnerable prisoners, including those on ACCTs, for at least one keyworker session monthly and track keywork progress through weekly performance meetings.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
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Position
The priority keywork model and monthly sessions for vulnerable prisoners, including those on ACCTs, are considered sufficient to address concerns about support provision.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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Concerns raised1
Staffing levels diluting key worker scheme requirements
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
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Action
Increase prison officer staffing through recruitment, bringing HMP Wandsworth above its target staffing level.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Assign a Custodial Manager to oversee keyworker allocation, training and data, with weekly management review.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Automatically assign keyworkers to higher-risk prisoners to provide support at the earliest opportunity.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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Concerns raised1
Failure to provide sufficient key-working sessions for prisoners
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.6
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Action
Implement the new regime and business planning process to support increased quantity and quality of key work.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Compile HMP Elmley’s Key Work Delivery Strategy to address and improve key-work provision.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Provide dedicated staff for young offenders on each houseblock to support targeted risk and vulnerability management.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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Action
Provide additional key-work sessions for prisoners on the neurodiverse landing and during weekends in the inpatient department and Care and Separation Unit.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Add key-work delivery elements to the Regime Planning Template for establishments to use in regime planning.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Raise the minimum key-work expectation to two sessions for every prisoner every four weeks in the 2025/26 regime-planning cycle.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
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Concerns raised1
Failure to deliver the keyworker scheme in line with national guidance
This report raised 16 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
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Action
Introduce the Band 3 group to support delivery of the keyworker scheme.
Stated by Guys Marsh Prison
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Concerns raised1
Failure of the keyworker programme to operate as planned
This report raised 3 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concernsEach statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
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Action
Fully reinstate key work across the male closed prison estate.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service -
Action
Review and develop the current key-work and OMiC sentence-management model using evidence, data and learning to improve safety and outcomes.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation Service
Data last updated 7 September 2026