We are With You - HMP Lincoln

On this page

• Overview
• Shared direction and culture
• Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders
• Freedom to speak up
• Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, management and sustainability
• Partnerships and communities
• Learning, improvement and innovation

We looked at 1 quality statement in this key question. Processes related to the administration of medicines for alcohol withdrawal had improved and were embedded into practice. However, some improvement was required in relation to the audit process.

Find out what we look at when we assess this area in our information about our new Single assessment framework.

The judgement for Shared direction and culture is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Freedom to speak up is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

Following our inspection in June 2025, WAWY introduced effective changes to improve the way staff administered alcohol withdrawal medicines to patients. However, at this inspection we found that WAWY had been slow to update its National Clinical Guidelines for Substance Misuse Prescribing and Drug Treatment in the Adult Prison Setting policy to include the locally agreed processes at HMP Lincoln. The updated policy is due for ratification in September 2026.

The senior pharmacy technician completed monthly audits of medicines administration completed at cell doors. We reviewed the 2 completed audits from March and May 2026; both audits identified that staff were not recording the required information in relation to the supervising prison officer. Managers had taken action to remind staff about the correct information they had to gather through handovers and emails. However, these recording omissions had not been reported as incidents, as required by the audit tool.

The audit tool relied on written narrative and did not include any measurable compliance rating. This is a gap, as it limits the provider’s ability to track trends over time, identify and reduce recurring issues, and demonstrate sustained improvement.

The judgement for Partnerships and communities is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.

The judgement for Learning, improvement and innovation is based on the latest evidence we assessed for the Well-led key question.