Secure Training Centres (STCs) are purpose-built centres for young offenders up to the age of 17. They are run by private operators under contracts, which set out detailed operational requirements. There are four STCs in England.
- Oakhill in Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire
- Hassockfield in Consett, County Durham
- Rainsbrook in Rugby, Northamptonshire
- Medway in Rochester, Kent
An STC at a glance
| Size of units |
Units of 58–87 places, with a maximum of 8 places per house within the STC |
| Staffing |
High staff to young people ratio, but lower than secure children’s homes |
| Staff training |
A few qualified social workers, but the contracts require all staff to complete a nine-week training programme specified by the YJB |
STCs house vulnerable young people who are sentenced to custody or remanded to secure accommodation. They provide a secure environment where they can be educated and rehabilitated. They differ from young offender institutions (YOIs) in that they have a higher staff to young offender ratio and are smaller in size, which means that individuals' needs can be met more easily. At the same time they remain large enough to be able to provide a range of facilities.
The regimes in STCs are constructive and education-focused. They provide tailored programmes for young offenders that give them the opportunity to develop as individuals which, in turn, will help stop them reoffending. Trainees are provided with formal education 25 hours a week, 52 weeks of the year.
All services related to the operation of an STC are provided on-site, including all education and training, primary healthcare, dentistry, and services to address the young person's offending behaviour (including input from mental health and social care professionals).
To facilitate the young person's rehabilitation into the community, STCs have a dedicated team of people working on fostering links with the young person's home community. This is particularly useful in creating educational and employment opportunities on release.
STC inspections
You can view the annual STC inspections, post-October 2003, on the Ofsted website [opens in new window]. Inspections carried out prior to October 2003 can be accessed using the search facility on the Department of Health website [opens in new window].