The chief inspector of prisons has said HMP The Mount in Bovingdon is doing better than comparable prisons.

Nick Hardwick has published a report of an unannounced inspection of the prison which took place between April 7 and 17 this year. The Mount recently opened a new 250-bed resettlement wing which was being filled as the inspection took place.

Despite facing similar challenges and disruption caused by its expansion, the prison was able to demonstrate better outcomes for the men it held than most prisons inspected recently.

In the report, inspectors were pleased to find the prison was reasonably safe and felt calm and well-ordered, even when large numbers of prisoners were moving back and forth to activities, and noted security was rigorous and that intelligence about gang membership and cooperation with the local police were impressive.

Staff were described as being stretched and busy but having good relationships and although use of force in the prison was said to be high the incidents examined by inspectors were proportionate and well managed.

Ofsted assessed the overall effectiveness of learning, skills and work in the prison as good and inspectors also said, that despite staff shortages and a restricted regime, time out of cell was reasonable and consistent.

However the prison did show concern in a few areas.

Inspectors said care for men at risk of suicide or self-harm was generally adequate but some lessons from previous deaths in custody has not been fully embedded.

They added that too many victims of bullying sought sanctuary in the segregation unit and most were then moved out to prisons with insufficient effort to resolve their concerns and that prisoners said drugs and alcohol were easily available despite determined efforts by the prison to prevent this.

Nick Hardwick said: "There is room for improvement at The Mount and we are confident the prison has the capacity to make it, but even now the prison is doing better than comparable prisons.

"There are some key reasons for this - the prison is very well led with a stable senior management team, the regime and staff are consistent, prisoners know what to expect and there is excellent use made of peer workers.

"There is much that other prisons can learn from The Mount."

Michael Spurr, chief executive of the National Offender Management Service, added: "I'm pleased that the chief inspector has found The Mount to be a stable, safe and well-ordered prison which is working effectively with prisoners to support their rehabilitation.

"The governor and his staff have worked hard to achieve a very positive inspection report.

"We will now use the recommendations in this report to further improve the prison, including looking at what more we can do to help prisoners to maintain contact with their children."