News
The YJB welcomes report to the United Nations
The UK Children’s Commissioner’s report to the UN, published today, has been welcomed by the YJB.
9 June 2008
YJB Chair Frances Done said:
“Our task is to ensure that children and young people are kept safe while in custody and that they are held to account for their offending behaviour. The YJB upholds the legal and human rights framework. We ensure that secure centres deliver dedicated and child-focused regimes for children and young people remanded or sentenced to custody. I am delighted that much of what this report calls for is already in place.”
Our achievements include:
- Our strategy for the secure estate that enshrines the legal and human rights for children and young people.
- In Wales, significantly increasing numbers of custody places enabling young people to be placed closer to home.
- Self-contained units for girls in young offender institutions (YOIs).
- Dedicated mother and baby facilities for under-18s.
- Providing a minimum of 25 hours per week of education, training and other purposeful activity.
- The YJB undertook a major review of safeguarding in YOIs which established, provision of advocacy services so that youngsters in custody can voice their views and concerns.
- Dedicated social workers in YOIs focusing on the safeguarding needs of young people.
- Introduction of JASP (Juvenile Awareness Staff Programme) training for all YOI staff which includes child protection and safeguarding issues.
- An investment of £8 million each year in substance misuse services for young people sentenced to custody.
- Since 2005, NHS Primary Care Trusts, have been responsible for the provision of healthcare in YOIs and they have significantly increased mental health provision for youngsters in custody.
Additionally, the YJB has implemented a code of practice for managing the behaviour of children and young people in the secure estate which sets out ten principles for good practice including:
- restraint to be used as a last resort
- rewarding good behaviour
- emphasising the importance of respect between children and staff
- all establishments now regularly carry out self-assessment against the code and implement action plans.
“Many young people in custody come from chaotic and difficult family backgrounds, suffer from severe behavioural disorders, or have been victims of abuse. Our first priority is to keep them safe and enable them to live crime free and successful lives after they leave custody,” said Done. “While we still face challenges in making custody as safe and productive as it can be, we are making excellent progress.”