CYP Now - Four questions for new Youth Custody Service boss

It was recently announced that Helga Swidenbank, the executive director of the Youth Custody Service (YCS), is leaving the service.

John Drew is senior associate, the Prison Reform Trust and former chief executive, the Youth Justice Board

Since being appointed in September 2018, Swidenbank has led the YCS with charm and fortitude during what has been a very tough period.

The YCS struggles at times to look after the children in their care decently. Covid has not helped but the problems run much deeper. There have been galloping failures in each of the secure training centres (STCs).

There appears to be a huge workforce crisis born of high turnover and low morale. The main beacon of hope lies with the much-postponed opening of a first secure school, but this is still 15 months away.

Here are four questions that should be near the top of the new director's in-tray.

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