Hydebank Wood College and Women's Prison

Two establishments on one campus

In shortHydebank Wood is a Secure College for young adult men and a Women’s Prison on one Belfast campus, and all women aged 18 and over sent to prison in Northern Ireland are held here.

The Northern Ireland Department of Justice describes Hydebank Wood College and Women’s Prison as a college which also houses female remand and sentenced prisoners in Ash House. Inspectors treat the two as separate establishments on a single campus.

The Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) calls the campus, on the outskirts of Belfast, a prison with all prisoners accommodated in single cells.

History and how it has changed

In shortHydebank Wood opened in 1979 as a young offender centre for boys and now has a Secure College and a growing women’s estate.

Beech House includes a dedicated women’s Care and Supervision Unit and the Lavender Unit for women with registered disabilities and social care needs.

Who is held, and how the population has changed

In shortThe women’s population is rising while the College’s young men population is falling.

• Women in custody, May to June 202495Half on remand; 65% of sentenced women serving a year or less; population up 36% since the previous inspection
• Young men in the College51Almost two-thirds on remand; population down around 40% since 2019
• Female daily population (IMB 2024/25)89 to 120Average daily population up 12%; reached an unprecedented 120 in November 2024, requiring short-term doubling up
• Male students (IMB 2024/25)58 to 50Down 13%

The College’s residential units include Cedar, Elm and Willow, with a vulnerable prisoners landing, an enhanced low-supervision landing and the induction landing.

The Board noted that many women arriving had complex mental health needs and said some should not be in a custodial environment, but observed that staff responded with care and patience.

The 2024 joint inspections

In shortBoth establishments were assessed as ‘good’ on all four healthy prison tests, with strong staff-prisoner relationships central to the success.

• SafetyGood
• RespectGood
• Purposeful activityGood
• Preparation for releaseGood

CJI, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMI Prisons), the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority and the Education and Training Inspectorate inspected from 21 May to 6 June 2024 and published two reports on 20 November 2024, one for each establishment.

Inspectors credited the Governor and senior team, NIPS leaders, the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast Metropolitan College, staff, partner organisations and the women and young men themselves.

Inspectors described the institution as impressive and said strong staff-prisoner relationships were central to its success.

• Prisoners were out of their cells for at least eight hours a day, and few prisoners were locked up during the working day.
• There had been only one serious assault in the previous year, and use of force mostly consisted of minimal guiding holds.
• 10 examples of notable practice at the Women’s Prison, including the Prisoner Safety and Support Team, a choir and a project with the Lyric Theatre.
• Examples at the College included work with White Ribbon on reducing violence against women and girls and pet therapy.

Concerns and the IMB’s view

In shortCJI identified six key concerns for each establishment, while the IMB found a stable regime and clean accommodation.

CJI identified six key concerns for the College and six for the Women’s Prison. The College report also raised social care commissioning for young men, which did not match the provision available in the community.

Working at Hydebank Wood

In shortNI Prison Service Custody Prison Officers advertised at £32,510 to £42,725 a year (marked ‘under review’), and inspectors’ reports on the staff side are positive.

• Advertised salary£32,510 to £42,725A year; marked ‘under review’
• Risk allowance£4,284Annual
• Boot allowance£92.80

The NI Prison Service’s Custody Prison Officer campaign named Maghaberry, Magilligan and Hydebank Wood College and Women’s Prison as the places of work, with a closing time of noon on Friday 17 July 2026, and applications through the NICS recruitment website. We checked this on 3 October 2026; training details were not given.

• Inspectors found that staff were well supported by managers, that morale was good, and that the leadership team included many excellent senior officers.
• For wider context see our Northern Ireland pay guide, the prison officer jobs by region guide and the prison finder.
• Our pages on HMP Maghaberry and HMP Magilligan cover the other two NI prisons.