Scandal Rocks Privately Run Young Offenders Facility

Strategic Insights -

Gross misconduct by staff, including leaders, at the privately run Rainsbrook secure training centre has led to dismissals and a damning Ofsted report. Inspectors found staff on duty while under the influence of drugs, colluding with detainees, and engaging in behaviour that caused distress and humiliation among young people. The report highlights incidents of degrading treatment and racist comments, as well as a child being left untreated for a fractured bone for 15 hours due to senior staff overruling medical advice. The centre's poor staff behaviour led to some young people being subjected to degrading treatment and racist comments.

Key Takeaways:

  • At least six members of staff have been dismissed from the Rainsbrook secure training centre after a series of incidents of gross misconduct.
  • Inspectors found staff on duty while under the influence of drugs, colluding with detainees, and engaging in behaviour that caused distress and humiliation among young people.
  • The report highlights incidents of degrading treatment and racist comments, as well as a child being left untreated for a fractured bone for 15 hours due to senior staff overruling medical advice.
  • Management of behaviour at the centre has deteriorated over the past 12 months, with more young people than in other secure training centres (STCs) reporting feeling threatened or bullied.
  • Rainsbrook staff, including the director, failed to follow clinical advice in two cases, resulting in delay in taking action and failure to get prompt treatment.
  • The G4S director of children's services, Paul Cook, acknowledged the report's findings and initiated an action plan to address the concerns.
  • The Youth Justice Board's chief executive, Lin Hinnigan, expressed confidence in the action plan and the new leadership in place at Rainsbrook.

Statistics:

  • 77 young people were in Rainsbrook at the time of the inspection.
  • About 1 in 10 young people reported feeling threatened or bullied.
  • In two out of eight cases of serious staff misconduct reviewed by inspectors, there was delay in taking appropriate action.
  • In two cases, Rainsbrook staff failed to follow clinical advice, and in one case, they failed to get prompt treatment.
  • The centre's contract was extended in March 2014 for a further 18 months until November 2016.

Sources:

  • "Inspectors' concerns at Rainsbrook STC amid staff misconduct allegations" by Ofsted ([Inspectors' Report](https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/631395/Rainsbrook_Secure_Training_Centre_Report.pdf)), [www.ofsted.gov.uk](http://www.ofsted.gov.uk), April 10, 2019
  • "G4S extends contract to run Rainsbrook youth jail" by BBC News, [www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-26959315](http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-26959315), March 13, 2014