Ofsted and Narey clash over controversial STC inspection

A joint inspection of Rainsbrook Secure Training Centre (STC) in Rugby, which was conducted in February by Ofsted, the Prisons Inspectorate and the Care Quality Commission, judged the establishment as "inadequate" after identifying a series of concerns including "serious incidents of gross misconduct by staff".

But an independent report by Sir Martin Narey, who was invited to the centre by G4S, the private firm that runs the establishment, calls the findings into question and states that the centre is well run.

Narey, who has advised government on adoption and social work education and was previously director general of the Prison Service said it was “clear” to him that children felt generally safe.

He praised staff for attempting to persuade parents to visit their children at the centre, described educational outcomes as “first class”, and said “there was much evidence to convince me that restraints were only used when absolutely necessary”.

Narey concluded that he did not believe the establishment was inadequate and an unsafe place for children.

“My assessment is that it is an institution in which some very challenging children are treated overwhelmingly well,” he said.

“The institution may be a better establishment now than at the time of the inspection.

"But I doubt that any improvement has been significant enough to explain the discrepancy between the inspectorates’ conclusion and mine.

“I don’t believe the inadequacies those improvements address, mean that Rainsbrook is, or was in February, an unsafe place for children.”

Ofsted has hit back at Narey's assertion, stating that it fully stands by the findings and recommendations of the original report.

A statement published by the watchdog, said the centre was found to be inadequate for overall effectiveness on the basis that the management of behaviour over the previous 12 months had deteriorated.

“It is encouraging that Sir Martin is able to paint such a positive picture of the centre on the basis of his own recent visit, commissioned by G4S,” the statement said.

“However, we are puzzled how he is able to conclude from this visit that Rainsbrook was not an inadequate and unsafe institution at the time of our joint inspection.

“The important thing now is for managers to concentrate on implementing our recommendations in full to bring about the necessary improvements to meet the needs of young people at the centre.”