Ministry of Justice written question – answered at on 30 June 2021.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report of a monitoring visit to Oakhill secure training centre, published by Ofsted and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons on 22 June 2021, what assessment he has made of the causes of the very high level of violence against staff in March 2021.
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the report of a monitoring visit to Oakhill secure training centre, published by Ofsted and Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons on 22 June 2021, what lessons Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service has identified from the two serious incidents of violence against HMP Oakhill staff noted in the report.
There are a number of factors that led to children at Oakhill STC feeling frustrated, resulting in a higher level of violence against staff in March 2021. Oakhill STC experienced a COVID-19 outbreak from 4 January to 8 March, meaning several children and staff had to isolate. This led to a significantly reduced timetable for children and limited mixing. Even after the outbreak had concluded, the STC still faced ongoing Covid-related staffing pressures, meaning the regime for children was inconsistent and some schemes could not be implemented fully.
The centre has taken several steps in order to learn lessons from the incidents that took place.
The Oakhill STC leadership team collated the learning they identified from the two incidents, with frontline staff briefed in small groups on the findings. Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) also provided incident management training to staff at Oakhill STC.
HMPPS Monitors, reviewed the performance at Oakhill in April, partly in response to the concerns around stability at the time. Among other points considered in this review were the effectiveness of the STC’s Behaviour Management Strategy, which incentivises and promotes positive behaviour, minimises behaviour that can cause harm, and tackles unacceptable behaviour. These lessons from this report have formed an action plan at Oakhill STC.
Additionally, the Youth Custody Service arranged for a HMPPS senior manager to visit the site this month to review governance around use of force at the centre. Recommendations from that visit will be taken forward to improve safety for both staff and children.
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