Children moved from Rainsbrook STC amid safety concerns
Joe Lepper
Thursday, June 17, 2021
All children have been removed from the privately run Rainsbrook secure training centre (STC) over “serious ongoing concerns about safety and performance”, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has announced.
Action taken by provider MTC over the last six months has not been enough to resolve long standing issues, according to the MoJ.
As a result all children have been removed and Justice Secretary Robert Buckland is to “explore alternative options for the site”.
All 33 young people at the Warwickshire-based STC have been taken to “safe and secure centres” across the youth secure estate, added the MoJ.
Buckland has made the decision to remove children following the preliminary findings of an Ofsted inspection last week. This has rated the centre as “inadequate” and a full report following will be “published shortly”, says the MoJ.
In January this year an action plan was issued to MTC to tackle urgent concerns raised by inspectors following a visit at the end of 2020. This flagged concerns including children being kept in their rooms for too long.
A follow up visit by Ofsted at the end of January found that incidents of violence and self-harm at the centre had increased.
Separation of children into bubbles due to the Covid-19 pandemic had increased assaults on staff and among young people. Arrangements around education had also worsened amid the pandemic.
However, concerns around children being kept in their rooms for excessive periods had been addressed.
“Six months ago, I demanded that MTC take immediate action to fix the very serious failings at Rainsbrook,” said Buckland.
“They have failed to deliver, and I have been left with no choice but to ask that all children are moved elsewhere as soon as possible.
“This move will help protect the public by ensuring often vulnerable children get the support they need to turn their lives around – ultimately resulting in fewer victims and safer streets.”
Options being considered include bringing the STC back under public sector control or repurposing it for alternative use.
MTC said that it is “surprised” by further concerns raised by Ofsted following their most recent visit, which it is to “vigorously challenge”
“Since December 2020, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, we have worked hard to address Ofsted’s recommendations and at a follow up visit in January, Ofsted inspectors recognised that progress had been made,” said MTC’s statement
“Our mission has always been to improve the lives of those we look after and we will work constructively and collaboratively with the MoJ as Rainsbrook’s future is reviewed in the coming days and weeks.”
As part of the decision to remove children from the STC the government is negotiating with MTC on the future of the contract to run the site.
In February, children’s sector leaders raised concerns over a move to extend MTC’s contract to run Rainsbrook. Its contract had due to end in May but it emerged that the MoJ had agreed to invoke a two year extension to allow the contract to run until 2023.
