YJB faces High Court challenge over secure home contracts

Ian Storr - 6 July 2009

I know Sutton Place which is now closed. Sutton Place's last Ofsted inspection confirmed the rating of the unit as outstanding. Roy  Walker, the unit manager, was awarded the OBE  a couple of years ago for his contribution to the development of secure care. Voice have run a system of confidential exit questionnaires at the unit since 2002.

Feedback from young people through this process has been consistently very positive about the service they received. This excellent resource is now not available for young people, inspite of DfES statements recognising the distinct contribution of secure children's homes to the youth justice system.

One of the issues that needs to be debated is how the Youth Justice Board define vulnerability. Many young people in the criminal justice system have mental health and educational difficulties, have experienced significant family disruption and/or abuse and neglect. I would argue that most are vulnerable in one way or another (to reoffend, follow high risk life styles, fail in relationships or the world of work) ,not just those young people who are likely to be bullied or self harm.

Work with these young people needs to recognise these experiences and their effects and this is best undertaken by child care staff in sufficient numbers working with small living groups. Unfortunately too many of these young people are ending up in the prison system where insufficient staffing means that the necessary work of treatment and rehabillitation often does not get done.

Ian Storr

julie lockwood - 2 July 2009

Having just completed my Independent Study on SCH for Uni, I was aware that these closures were going to be implemented, I also have a personal experience, where my own child had to be placed in SCH for her protection as she was a self harmer, I found depending on the facility there are pros and cons regarding these homes and the staff that work in them, I fully understand the Howard League regarding the young person at Orchard Lodge, depending on the reasons for him being there, to uproot him to a YOI or STC at this time could be very detrimental to him. However, on the other hand if the SCH's are not performing and the young people are not being helped then I understand the reasons for the YJB and their closures. I believe this could be a catch 22 and will need great thought before it is implementd.