Rise in violent incidents at 'inadequate' secure training centre

An inspection of Oakhill Secure Training Centre (STC) in Milton Keynes by Ofsted, HM Prisons Inspectorate and the Care Quality Commission found managers described the centre as unsafe and that young people had taken to carrying improvised weapons for their own protection.

The joint inspection revealed that between March and August 2017, there were 330 assaults recorded inflicting more than 80 injuries to staff and young people, some so serious they required hospital treatment.

Oakhill received an overall effectiveness rating of "inadequate", with inspectors also judging it inadequate for safety, the care of young people, promoting positive behaviour and resettlement.

Effectiveness of leadership was also rated inadequate.

Inspectors said levels of violence at the centre had deteriorated since its last inspection in January 2017 - when it was rated as "requires improvement" - and that many of its recommendations from then had not been addressed.

"There have been insufficient improvements since the last inspection and the centre has deteriorated in most aspects including safety, care, education, resettlement, and the effectiveness of leaders and managers," the report states.

The STC was found to be operating at near its maximum capacity of 80 places when inspected, and there was no evidence staff could adequately care and control this volume of young people.

Senior managers at G4S were criticised in the report for not having a "good grip on what is happening in the centre on a day-to-day basis".

Among the immediate recommendations outlined in the report was an urgent review of all young people's plans, interventions and risk assessments to ensure full account was taken of young people's offending histories, vulnerabilities and other key events in their lives.

"Inspectors are so concerned about the multiple and serious deficits in risk assessments of the young people in the centre that we have asked for all young people to be reviewed urgently," it states.

Inspectors found that some risk assessments were taking only the young person's most recent offence into account, omitting consideration of previous offending.

The report highlighted the case of a young person who had a conviction for raping a stranger, but that no consideration had been given to the risk to female staff working at Oakhill.

Further criticisms levelled at the centre were that certain areas were "untidy and unclean", with considerable damage carried out to doors and locks that meant some were difficult to open and close.

Staffing arrangements had also undergone several changes resulting in increasing numbers of staff working on the living units who were new and inexperienced.

"The centre's senior managers do not all demonstrate a sound understanding of their areas of responsibility, do not have sufficient professional and technical knowledge of their specialist areas or understand the full range of weaknesses and challenges," the report concludes.

Frances Crook, chief executive of The Howard League for Penal Reform, called for Oakhill to be closed immediately.

"Oakhill has harmed children, and failed victims and taxpayers for too long. These children will suffer life-long damage from their treatment," she said.