JOINT INSPECTION OF EDINBURGH SECURE SERVICES
MAIN POINTS FOR ACTION
Action is required by the City of Edinburgh Council and the senior management team and staff at Edinburgh Secure Services on the following requirements and main recommendations.
Requirements
1. Night staff must be supervised and supported, given equal opportunities for training and integrated in the whole staff team (paragraph 81). (SSI 2002/114 Regulation 13(c)).
2. There should be a staffing assessment based on an assessment of the risks posed by young people and their needs (paragraph 24). (SSI 2002/114 Regulation 13(a)).
3. Young people should be made aware of the contact details of the Care Commission and its role in relation to complaints (paragraph 39). (SSI 2002/114 Regulation 25(6)(a)).
4. Senior managers and the external manager should establish a quality assurance system in relation to the handling of violent incidents. An action plan should be forwarded to SWSI and the Care Commission within 6 months of the publication of this report (paragraphs 57 and 78). (SSI 2002/114 Regulation 4(1)(a)).
5. A quality development plan for care should be produced by January 2005 and copies forwarded, to SWSI and the Care Commission. Around the same time, the 2004-2005 development plan for education should be forwarded to HMIE along with an update on progress. An integrated development plan, for all services, should be produced by June 2005 and copies forwarded to HMIE, SWSI and the Care Commission (paragraph 80). (SSI 2002/114 Regulation 4(1)(a)).
Recommendations
6. Staff should be pro-active in planning shifts and activities for young people (paragraph 43). (Standards 8.4 and 12.1).
7. Senior managers and the external manager should have more of a presence in the units (paragraph 57). (Standard 7.6).
8. Senior managers should produce a staff training plan (paragraph 81). (Standard 7.8).
9. Case files should be comprehensive, including individualised educational programmes and a summary of work undertaken by specialists (paragraphs 73 and 83). (Standards 14.1 and 14.6).
10. A more integrated approach to health promotion is required (paragraphs 48 and 70). (Standard 12.1).
11. Senior managers, with the assistance of the authority, should explore how to make the best use of educational facilities across the two sites. Together, they also should carry out regular health and safety audits of accommodation, facilities and practices and ensure that appropriate action is undertaken (paragraph 22).
12. Senior managers and staff should continue to develop links with the wider community and improve the quality of information issued to service users, including students and their parents and carers (paragraphs 30, 31 and 79).
13. Across both sites, teaching staff should extend the length of the school week and improve the structure, breadth and balance of the curriculum. They should take further steps to improve courses and ensure that students have more opportunities to undertake NQ units in a wider range of curriculum areas. There should be appropriate opportunities for religious observance (paragraphs 38, 59, 60 and 76).
14. Teaching staff should develop the use of IEPs and ensure that they contain more specific targets for promoting achievement and measuring success. There should be a more appropriate approach to initial assessment and greater integration of IEPs and care plans. Senior managers, together with relevant education authority personnel, should continue to monitor and improve arrangements for managing Records of Needs and Future Needs Assessments (paragraph 73).
15. There should be more systematic and robust approaches to self-evaluation, development planning and quality assurance within educational provision (paragraphs 79, 82 and 86).
Scottish Ministers
16. Scottish Ministers should give full approval to secure accommodation in Howdenhall Centre (Braid) and re-approve secure accommodation in St Katharine's Centre (Guthrie) under the Regulation of Care (Requirements as to Care Services) (Scotland) Regulations 2002.
Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care
17. Conditions of approval and registration for Edinburgh Secure Services should be amended to show an extension in the maximum length of placement from 6 to 8 months (paragraph 27).
How can you contact us?
Copies of this report have been sent to senior managers and staff in Edinburgh Secure Services, the Director of Children and Families and the Chief Social Work officer in City of Edinburgh Council, user and neighbouring authorities, appropriate local councillors and Members of the Scottish Parliament. Subject to availability, further copies may be obtained free of charge from the office at the address below or by telephoning 0131 244 5423. Copies are also available on our websites:
Should you wish to comment on or make a complaint about any aspect of the inspection or this report, you should write in the first instance to Gill Ottley, Depute Chief Inspector, whose address is given below. If you are unhappy with the response you will be told in writing what further steps you may take.
Social Work Services Inspectorate
Scottish Executive Education Department
Room 1-F76(S)
Victoria Quay
EDINBURGH
EH6 6QQ
Crown Copyright © 2004
Scottish Executive
This report may be reproduced in whole or in part, except for commercial purposes or in connection with a prospectus or advertisement, provided that the source and date thereof are stated.