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HMP & YOI Askham Grange

Askham Grange is an open prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Askham Richard, near York, for women aged 18 and over. HMPPS places it in the "Female" functional group. Band 3 prison officer pay here starts at £37,131 on a 39-hour contract (2026/27 rates). At 128 places it is the smallest of the 14 establishments we list in Yorkshire and the Humber with a published capacity.

HMPPS prison officer jobsWork out my take-home hereCompare with other prisons

HMP & YOI Askham Grange at a glance

  • At 128 places it is the smallest of the 14 establishments we list in Yorkshire and the Humber with a published capacity.
  • Among the 12 prisons in the HMPPS "Female" functional group with a published capacity, it ranks 11th by size.
  • Its latest full HMIP inspection (report published 25 September 2023) graded safety "good" and purposeful activity "good".
  • GOV.UK gives its nearest station as: York.
Type
HMP & YOI
Holds
Women
Run by
HMPPS (public sector)
Nation
England
Region (geographic)
Yorkshire and the Humber
HMPPS prison region
Women's EstateWorkforce statistics, June 2026
Town / county
Askham Richard, near York, North Yorkshire
Postcode
YO23 3FT
HMPPS functional group
FemaleA role label, not each prisoner's security category
Officer pay zone
National (all other locations)
Band 3 market supplement
None listedHMPPS pay page, 3 October 2026
Operational capacity
128As at 24 August 2026
Latest HMIP report published
25 September 2023
Nearest railway station (GOV.UK)
York

Official description (GOV.UK/SPS/NI Justice): “Askham Grange is an open prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Askham Richard, near York, for women aged 18 and over.” Official page.

An open prison with a long history

In shortAskham Grange, opened in 1947 as the first prison of its type for women, is an open resettlement prison near York.

It is an open prison, meaning it has minimal physical security and eligible women can spend much of the day away from the site on work or education. Within the women's estate its task is resettlement.

HMIP's 2023 report describes the prison's primary aim as promoting effective rehabilitation through release on temporary licence (ROTL) and other resettlement activity. The establishment receives women from other prisons rather than from the courts.

Site history (HMIP)

  1. 1880sVictorian country house built

    The site is in Askham Richard, North Yorkshire, just south of York.

  2. January 1947Opened

    HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) describes it as the first prison of its type for women.

  3. Mid-1990sExtensions

    Added extensions that include a mother and baby unit.

Who is held and what the prison does

In shortAskham Grange holds adult women in the later stages of their sentences, with about a quarter of places empty in 2023.

  • Held (2023 inspection)94 / 128Women against operational capacity
  • MoJ bulletin, 24 August 202685 / 128Held against the same capacity
  • Using ROTLAround 80%Including for employment, 2023 report
  • Community placementNearly halfAn education, skills or work placement, much of it paid

Askham Grange holds adult women (aged 18 and over). Inspectors in 2023 said a quarter of places were empty and called that a wasted opportunity, noting that many women assessed as suitable for open conditions were still in closed prisons.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) says women are generally in the later stages of their sentence and working towards release.

  • A main house with 51 single rooms and some dormitories
  • An annexe, the Acorn Centre and a standalone building, Acorn House, where women can stay with their children and a family member
  • A mother and baby unit taking up to 10 mothers and 11 babies
  • A nursery on site run by the charity Action for Children (IMB)

What inspectors found in 2023

In shortHMIP found good outcomes in all four healthy prison tests, and called it a very high performing prison with a community ethos.

  • SafetyGood
  • RespectGood
  • Purposeful activityGood
  • Rehabilitation and release planningGood
  • Women with a key worker calling them helpful89%Contact generally every two weeks

HMIP inspected Askham Grange unannounced from 19 June to 6 July 2023, and the report was published on 25 September 2023.

The Chief Inspector called it a very high performing prison with solid leadership and a community ethos, and said it was a shame too few women were transferred there. Inspectors also found that violence was absent since the previous inspection in 2019.

HMIP's 2023 findings

Strengths

  • No recorded violence since 2019
  • Extensive use of ROTL
  • Acorn House and the mother and baby unit
  • The Hope programme for women moving from closed to open conditions, and a strong reading culture
  • Key work rated a real strength and among the best they had seen
  • Ofsted judged education, skills and work good overall, with behaviour and attitudes outstanding
  • All officers deployed were experienced (leaders used only those with more than two years in service) and staff morale was high compared with many prisons

Concerns (seven key, two priorities)

  • Too many unfilled places, and difficulty recruiting key leadership, teaching and training posts
  • Fewer women than in 2019 said staff treated them with respect (65% against 92%) and more reported verbal abuse from staff (28% against 8%), which inspectors linked to a small number of staff described as curt or unhelpful, undermining otherwise very good relationships
  • ROTL home-leave plans that had to be submitted four weeks ahead were criticised as overly prescriptive
  • The recording and oversight of child contact restrictions

What the Independent Monitoring Board reported for 2024 to 2025

In shortThe IMB found Askham Grange generally safe with excellent staff-prisoner relationships, but raised concerns about late arrivals and limited ROTL appeal.

  • Use of forceNoneRecorded in the period, with no serious violence or self-harm
  • ACCT documents opened7Self-harm monitoring

The IMB's annual report for 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025 was published in January 2026.

The Board's view was that Askham Grange generally remains a safe place for prisoners and staff, and that staff-prisoner relationships remain excellent, with detailed staff knowledge of each woman seen as the most effective way of spotting difficulties early.

  • Some women arrive in open conditions with very little time left on their sentence, so cannot use the work and education on offer
  • Women can already access ROTL from closed conditions, which reduces the appeal of a site far from home
  • The Board asked HMPPS for an update on funding for sexual and domestic violence support services
  • It was awaiting a new governing governor at the time of writing

Recent developments and current figures

In shortAskham Grange scored 90.1% in the HMPPS 2025/26 ratings, outstanding performance, and the 2023 HMIP report remains the latest inspection.

  • HMPPS rating4: outstandingOverall score 90.1%; 2025/26 annual performance ratings, published 30 July 2026
  • Band 3 to 5 officers (FTE)37 / 41Band 3 to 5 officers against target, four below; 30 June 2026

HMIP's 2026 New Hall report confirms that the two prisons still share a governor, who spent on average two days a week away from New Hall because Askham Grange is more than 40 miles away. HMIP's 2023 report describes the arrangement as effective.

The same statistics place Askham Grange in the Women's Estate group. We have found no HMIP inspection of Askham Grange after the 2023 report, so the 2023 findings remain the latest independent assessment of conditions on site.

Working at Askham Grange

In shortAskham Grange is on standard national Band 3 pay with no market supplement as at 3 October 2026, and some adverts have been women-only.

  • Market supplementNoneNot on the HMPPS Band 3 list as at 3 October 2026

Officers here are on standard national Band 3 pay. See our prison officer pay bands page and the pay hub for the current figures, and compare other women's prisons in the prison finder.

Applying and getting there

  • GOV.UK gives York as the nearest railway station
  • Vacancies are advertised through the official Justice Jobs portal reached from prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk, and our how to become a prison officer guide sets out the route
  • A 2025 advert covering both Askham Grange and New Hall was reported in job listings as open to women applicants only, under the occupational requirement exception in Schedule 9 of the Equality Act 2010
  • Always read the eligibility section of the live advert, and see our women prison officers guide for wider context on the women's estate

Officer pay at HMP & YOI Askham Grange

National (all other locations) zone; Band 3 rates from 1 April 2026, including the 20% unsocial hours allowance.

Band 3, 39 hours, entry£37,131No market supplement listed
Band 3, 37 hours, entry£34,928Trainee contract
Band 3, 41 hours, top pay point£41,417Highest Band 3 option here
Band 3 prison officer pay at HMP & YOI Askham Grange, 2026/27 (£ a year, base rates before supplement)
Contract hoursEntry (pay point 1)Maximum (pay point 3)
37 hours (trainee contract) incl. 20% unsocial hours£34,928£36,778
39 hours (2 additional committed hours)£37,131£39,097
41 hours (4 additional committed hours)£39,334£41,417

PSPRB 25th Report, Appendix E. No supplement listed on the HMPPS jobs site, 3 October 2026.

Other grades at HMP & YOI Askham Grange (2026/27, £ a year)
GradeContractFromUp to
Band 2 Operational Support Grade37 hours incl. 25% unsocial hours£31,761£31,761
Band 4 Supervising / Specialist Officer37 hours incl. 20% unsocial hours£41,328£41,328
Band 5 Custodial Manager39 hours incl. 2 pensionable committed hours£47,327£49,600

Supplements apply to Band 3 only. PSPRB 25th Report, Appendix E.

Turn these into take-home with the pay calculator, or see what the journey costs with the commute cost calculator. Band 3 pay explained.

Open the calculator pre-filled for Askham Grange

Capacity, performance and staffing

At 24 August 2026: operational capacity 128, population 85 (66%), certified normal accommodation in use 128. HMPPS monthly population bulletin.

HMPPS performance rating, 2025/26

RatingOutstanding performance
Overall score90.1%
Functional groupFemale

Scale 4 (outstanding) to 1 (serious concern). HMPPS prison performance ratings 2025/26.

Officer staffing against target

At 30 June 2026: 37 FTE Band 3 to 5 officers against a target of 41 (-4, hours-adjusted). A gap against target is not a count of advertised vacancies. HMPPS workforce statistics, June 2026.

Female is HMPPS's functional-group label for the prison's role, not any prisoner's security category. Official wording: “Open”. See prison categories explained or all Female prisons.

Latest inspection

HMIP's most recent report on Askham Grange was published 25 September 2023 (full inspection report); that is the publication date, not the visit date.

safetygood
respectgood
purposeful activitygood
preparation for releasegood

Grades from the latest full inspection report, published 25 September 2023.

Of the 122 prisons with full HMIP grades, 36 share its "good" safety grade and 9 its "good" purposeful-activity grade. 27 of the 122 had no test below "reasonably good".

Read the HMIP report

Working at HMP & YOI Askham Grange and how to apply

There is no Askham Grange-specific page on the HMPPS jobs site; adverts are listed by location. Read the live advert for closing dates and assessment-centre details.

Postcode: YO23 3FT. View on a map. Nearest railway station, per GOV.UK: York.

Other prisons in Yorkshire and the Humber and similar prisons

These establishments are in the same county or region (14 listed in Yorkshire and the Humber). See all of them in one table.

Similar by HMPPS functional group (Female)

Compare Askham Grange side by side in the prison finder

Related guides

HMP & YOI Askham Grange: frequently asked questions

How much does a prison officer earn at HMP & YOI Askham Grange?

From £37,131 a year on 39 hours at the entry pay point, rising to £39,097 (National zone, 2026/27).

Does HMP & YOI Askham Grange pay a market supplement?

No: it is not on the HMPPS list (checked 3 October 2026).

What category is HMP & YOI Askham Grange?

HMPPS lists it in the "Female" functional group, a label for the prison's role rather than the category of each prisoner. GOV.UK/HMIP wording: "Open".

How many prisoners can HMP & YOI Askham Grange hold?

Operational capacity 128, population 85 at 24 August 2026 (HMPPS bulletin).

How do I apply to work at HMP & YOI Askham Grange?

There is no Askham Grange page on the HMPPS jobs site, so use the general HMPPS prison officer page, where adverts are listed by location.

What is the nearest train station to HMP & YOI Askham Grange?

GOV.UK gives: York.

What kind of prison is Askham Grange?

It is a women's open prison and young offender institution near York for women aged 18 and over. HMIP describes its main aim as resettlement through release on temporary licence and other community work. It has an operational capacity of 128 and a mother and baby unit. It is managed jointly with HMP & YOI New Hall.

How did Askham Grange do in its last inspection?

HM Inspectorate of Prisons inspected it from 19 June to 6 July 2023 and rated safety, respect, purposeful activity, and rehabilitation and release planning all as good. The report was published on 25 September 2023. Inspectors also raised seven concerns, including empty places and difficulty recruiting to some posts.

Is Askham Grange the same as New Hall?

No. They are separate prisons about 40 miles apart, but HMIP says they are managed jointly and share a governing governor and some senior leaders. New Hall is a closed women's prison near Wakefield, and women suitable for open conditions are often transferred from there to Askham Grange.

Sources and method

Data as at 3 October 2026; see our methodology. Independent of HMPPS, the Ministry of Justice and the POA; not legal or financial advice. Out of date? Tell us.

Not verified for this prison: No HMIP inspection after June to July 2023 was found, so inspection findings are over three years old and may not reflect today's prison.; The 2025 joint advert's women-only eligibility wording was seen only in a search-engine listing; the advert page returned an error when opened, so check the live advert.; No current Askham Grange recruitment page on prisonandprobationjobs.gov.uk was found, and no source gives current local officer numbers beyond the HMPPS full-time-equivalent figure.; No official source on local housing, commuting or the surrounding area was used beyond GOV.UK naming York as the nearest station..