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<p>The safety and wellbeing of the children and young people in custody remains our
priority during this unprecedented period. The Youth Custody Service (YCS) has been
adapting its approach to delivery in order to meet the needs of children whilst complying
with wider guidance around physical distancing. There is a focus on delivering essential
activities and ensuring that children remain engaged and stimulated. This includes
regular phone calls (additional phone credit has been allocated), access to showers
and education materials and time in the fresh air. Establishments are working to create
activities that children can undertake in small groups or in their rooms, including
workouts and greater access to television, entertainment and in room activity material.</p><p>‘Secure
Stairs’ is the framework for integrated care jointly led by NHS England, NHS Improvement
and the YCS, which provides the foundations as to how youth secure establishments
work with children. An enhanced ‘Secure Stairs’ team has come together to support
staff and children, focusing on an approach that encourages interaction and protects
the physical and mental health of young people whilst ensuring compliance with physical
distancing requirements.</p><p>HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) recently published
a report following short scrutiny visits to Cookham Wood, Parc and Wetherby Young
Offender Institutions on 21 April. The report was acknowledged by HMIP as being generally
positive, referencing the ‘swift actions taken to keep children safe, as well as the
creativity of staff and managers in providing opportunities for children to receive
meaningful interaction’. They also noted that all the sites were calm and well ordered,
with self-harm reduced at Parc and Wetherby and stable at Cookham Wood.</p><p>Separately,
the YCS conducted the internal review of safeguarding across youth custody, ‘Youth
Custody Service Safeguarding Review’ which was published on Gov.uk last October. The
recommendations of this report are being considered and taken forward by the newly-created
‘YCS National Head of Safeguarding’ to further enhance safeguarding of children within
secure settings.</p>
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