This publication presents statistics on Secure Accommodation. Headline messages are:
- During 2005-06 one secure unit closed and another opened. As at 31 st March 2006 five secure units provided a total of 94 secure places.
- There was an average of 81 residents in secure accommodation through-out 2005-06, down from 87 in 2004-05 and 92 in 2003-04.
- The average cost per bed per week was £4,100, ranging from £3,900 to £4,600. Given the demand in 2005-06, the estimated annual cost for secure accommodation in Scotland was £15.7 million, a 3.5 per cent decrease from the previous year in real terms.
- Half of all young people admitted to secure accommodation during the year were 15 years old. For the past 7 years, the age profile of young people admitted to secure has remained fairly stable.
- Twenty-nine per cent of all young people leaving secure accommodation in 2005-06 returned to the same type of placement as they were in before being admitted to secure. In most cases, children were living with parents/friends/relatives prior to admission and returned to them on discharge.
YOUNG PEOPLE IN SECURE ACCOMMODATION
1. As at 31 st March 2006 there were five secure units providing a total of 94 secure places. ( Table 1)
2. The average cost per bed per week was £4,100. Given the demand in 2005-06, the estimated annual cost for secure accommodation in Scotland was £15.7 million. Compared to the annual cost in 2004-05 this is a 5.5 per cent decrease in nominal terms or a 3.5 per cent decrease in real terms.
3. There was an average of 81 residents in secure accommodation through-out 2005-06, down from 87 the previous year. ( Table 2)
4. The number of young people in secure through-out the year ranged from 73 to 90. Both the minimum and maximum values are the lowest since 2000. ( Table 2)
5. There were 251 admissions to secure accommodation in 2005-06. This was a decrease of 8 per cent from 2004-05. There was also a 10 per cent decrease in the number of discharges to 252. ( Table 2, Chart 1)
6. On the 31 st March 2006, there were 466 staff working across the secure estate, of which 22 were temporary. There were 16 vacancies, of which 8 had been vacant for more than 3 months. ( Table 3)
7. Seventy-six per cent of young people in secure accommodation on 31 st March 2006 were boys. ( Table 4)
8. Half of children admitted to secure accommodation during the year were admitted when they were 15 years old. ( Table 5)
9. There was an increase in admissions and discharges in March 2006 as one unit closed and another opened. The highest number of admissions and discharges during the year occurred during July 2005 and June 2005 respectively. ( Chart 2)
10. Twenty-nine per cent of young people discharged during 2005-06 had been in secure accommodation for less than 1 month, down 2 percentage points from the previous year. Four per cent had been in secure for more than 12 months, equal to the previous year. ( Table 5, Chart 3)
11. Thirty-three per cent of young people admitted to secure were previously living with parents, other relatives or friends. Girls were more likely than boys to be admitted from foster care or a children's home, boys were more likely to be admitted from the parental home, relatives or friends. ( Table 7)
12. Twenty-nine per cent of all young people leaving secure in 2005-06 returned to the same type of placement as they were in before being admitted. Eleven per cent of young people were discharged to secure care. This compares to just 5 per cent in 2004-05. The reason for the unusually high figure is the closing of one centre and the opening of another in March 2006. ( Table 8 and Table 9)
13. All young people discharged during 2005-06 who had been in secure for 6 months or more received medical care during their spell. This compares to 63 per cent of young people who had been in secure for less than one month. ( Table 10, Chart 4)
The following charts are available:
Chart 1 - Places, admissions and discharges: 1999-00 to 2005-06
Chart 2 - Admissions and discharges by month, 2005-06
Chart 3 - Length of stay on discharge as a percentage of young people discharged during the year: 1999-00 to 2005-06
Chart 4 - Percentage of discharged young people who received medical care, agreed aftercare plan, discharge date and place were as agreed, by length of stay in secure, 2005-06
The following tables are available:
Table 1: Secure accommodation establishments 2005-06
Table 2: Secure accommodation capacity and usage 2000-2006
Table 3: Secure accommodation staff as at 31st March 2006 and 31 st March 2005
Table 4: Young people in secure accommodation on 31 st March 2000-2006 by gender, age and length of stay
Table 5: Young people admitted to or discharged from secure accommodation at any point during the years ending 31 March 2000-2006 by gender, age, and length of stay
Table 6: Number of young people admitted to secure accommodation and rates per head 2005-06 by local authority
Table 7: Young people admitted to secure accommodation: Placement prior to admission and reason for admission, by gender, 2005-06
Table 8: Young people discharged from secure accommodation: Placement prior to admission by placement on discharge, 2005-06
Table 9: Percentage of young people discharged from secure accommodation whose placement on discharge was the same as placement prior to admittance, 2005-06
Table 10: Percentage of young people discharged from secure care who received medical care and agreed aftercare plan during spell in secure, discharge date and placement on discharge were as agreed in aftercare plan, by length of stay in secure, 2005-06
BACKGROUND NOTES
1. The survey forms and guidance notes for data presented in this publication, and previous years publications, can be seen at www.scotland.gov.uk/childrenstats .
2. Kerelaw closed on the 31 March 2006 and St. Philips opened on 6 March 2006.
3. The average number of young people in secure over the year is calculated using the dates of entry and discharge for every child. Similarly, the estimated annual cost of secure accommodation over the year is calculated using the dates of entry and discharge for every child and the average cost of a secure bed in that unit.
4. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.
5. Public enquiries ( non-media) about the information contained in this Publication Notice should be addressed to Sara Grainger at Children's Statistics, Scottish Executive Education Department, Area 1-B, Victoria Quay, Edinburgh, EH6 6QQ (telephone 0131 244 0314 or e-mail children.statistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk).
6. Media enquiries about the information in this Statistics Publication Notice should be addressed to Russell Fallis on 0131 244 3073.