Inspectorate praises Wetherby YOI for fall in restraint

A report by the Prisons Inspectorate found that there had been 316 incidents in the six months prior to inspection in October last year.

This represented a significant drop since the last inspection in January 2012 when there were 271 incidents during the previous three months.

Inspectors found that on the latest inspection there were some good examples of de-escalation and staff seeking to avoid “full restraint”.

If young people made complaints, they were investigated thoroughly and young people were kept safe, the report said.

However, inspectors noted that videos of two planned removals showed that “fully compliant” young people were still handcuffed with wrist-locks applied and were required to walk bent over to the separation and care unit, something described in the report as “excessive”.

There was also evidence of the use of a pain compliance technique – the so-called mandibular angle technique, which involves applying upward pressure below the jaw, near the ear – being used during 11 incidents in the previous six months, which was described as “inappropriate”.

Meanwhile, not all planned incidents had been recorded and almost 20 per cent of use of force paperwork was “incomplete or missing” despite the efforts made by the safeguarding team to ensure that it was completed.

“This made it difficult to be confident that force was always used as a last resort,” the report states.

Inspectors also found evidence that group assaults on individuals were becoming more common, conditions in the separation and care unit remained “bleak” and incidences of self-harm among young people were higher than in comparable establishments.

But, overall, inspectors said they were pleased to find that the vast majority of young people reported feeling safe. The presence of prison-based social workers had brought tangible improvements to the quality of child protection work, and bullying was at a relatively low level.

Accommodation was clean and well equipped, and recently refurbished windows helped prevent young people “shouting out”, to intimidate others – an issue that had been identified during the inquest of 17-year-old Ryan Clark, who took his own life at Wetherby in April 2011.

Nick Hardwick, chief Inspector of prisons said that, despite weaknesses, the overall assessment was that Wetherby was a “well-led and effective institution”.

“It was safe and respectful, and although the challenges and risks of such a volatile and vulnerable group of young people were ever present, there was confidence and focus among managers and staff that ensured the needs of young people were being met,” he said.

Lin Hinnigan, chief executive of the Youth Justice Board, said the report showed that overall the outcomes for young people are “reasonably good or better” in relation to safety, respect, purposeful activity and resettlement.

“We are pleased that the presence of YJB-funded YOI social workers has brought improvements to the quality of child protection work.

“And, we particularly welcome the significant reduction in the use of force with clear indications that staff had the confidence to de-escalate incidents.”