Youth Custody Service Safeguarding Review
A review of safeguarding practices from the youth secure estate in England and Wales.
Documents
Details
The Youth Custody Service (YCS) was established in September 2017 as a distinct arm of her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).
YCS has operational responsibility for the children and young people’s secure estate, which accommodates all children and young people aged 18 years and under held across England and Wales. With a moral and legal duty to provide a safe, decent and secure living and working environment, YCS is responsible for ensuring provision maximises safety outcomes for young people and staff whilst also reducing reoffending. As such, concerns are shared regarding perceptions of safety and levels of violence as highlighted by various stakeholders including Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) and Ofsted.
Together with the Youth Justice Reform programme’s vision and purpose to address concerns around safety, there is a need for YCS to review, define and communicate policies, procedures and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children and young people. In response, an internal national review was commissioned of Safeguarding across and by YCS.
Its purpose was to assess the current landscape, focusing on the responsibilities of YCS but also considering the interplay with other agencies in safeguarding children and young people in custody. This report summarises the findings from the national review, noting themes and recommendations to inform future strategic direction of safeguarding practice within YCS. Good practice is highlighted throughout.