STV NewsA dad has called for the closure of an unsafe secure unit after his child suffered “untold damage” being housed “alongside criminals”.
Staff at St Mary’s Kenmure, in East Dunbartonshire, used excessive levels of physical restraint on young people and the safety of children in care was “consistently compromised”, a damning Care Inspectorate report found.
The watchdog banned any new admissions to the unit after it said children sent there faced a “serious risk” to life.
The facility is the largest of its kind in Scotland, housing up to 24 children aged between 11 and 18 years old, some of whom have been referred from the courts and children’s hearings.
“I can’t understand why my child has been put in the unit with teenagers who have committed crimes”
Dad of child housed at St Mary’s Kenmure
According to St Mary’s Kenmure’s website, the care and education at the unit is provided by staff who are registered with the Scottish Social Services Council and General Teaching Council.
However, a report published by the Care Inspectorate found that St Mary’s Kenmure employees utilised “high levels of physical restraint” on young people and the safety of those in care was “consistently compromised.”
A dad, whose child was placed in the unit to receive support for their mental health, believes the time spent in St Mary’s has had a detrimental effect.
“I can’t understand why my child has been put in the unit with teenagers who have committed crimes,” he told STV News.
“These people might now be in her life, that’s not the way it should be. Teenagers were free to roam the halls because of the lack of staff.
STV News“The unit is not safe for the staff and it isn’t safe for the kids. I feel my child was put more at risk whilst at St Mary’s.
“They were threatened whilst in there and bullied. How does that help someone who is in there to receive care for their mental health?
“In reality it makes things worse. My child should not have been there.
“They’ve done untold damage to my child now. My kid has witnessed violent assaults in there.
“I can’t understand why that unit is still open it should be closed.”
St Mary’s Kenmure is one of only four units in Scotland now allowed to house young offenders under 18 years old alongside vulnerable children placed there for their wellbeing.
In September, all under-18s who were previously detained at Polmont Young Offenders Institution (YOI) near Falkirk were moved to secure care settings as the Scottish Government implemented its Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act, which contains provisions for ending the detention of under-18s in YOIs in Scotland.
Regulations ending new admissions of children to YOIs came into force on August 28.
The dad believes young people who have been convicted of crimes should not be housed in the same unit as those who are required to be in care because of their mental health.
He feels the report from the Care Inspectorate has validated his concerns.
“The system is set up to fail,” he said.
“You’re taking one risk away but placing my child somewhere with even more risks.
“If I was to need help for my mental health today, they wouldn’t put me in prison alongside the criminals. I don’t understand why they’ve done this to my kid.
“This is going to have a massive impact on them.”
The Scottish Government state that secure units are the best place for children who are the subject of court proceedings and children’s hearing systems.
A spokesperson said: “Secure accommodation providers care for children placed there by the children’s hearings system or courts. They have experience and expertise in providing support and care for children who have experienced, or are experiencing, extreme needs, risks and vulnerabilities in their lives.
“There are robust procedures in place to match children to placements. Individualised risk assessments and plans are made to meet each child’s needs and consider their wellbeing, ensuring that the safety and protection of all children and staff are central.”
St Mary’s Kenmure says it takes children’s safety “seriously” and recognises the need to improve the care provided.
A St Mary’s Kenmure spokesperson said: “The management and staff of St Mary’s, Kenmure, recognise the need to improve the quality of care and protection of our children.
“As the Care Inspectorate’s report states: ‘Prior to this inspection, there had been significant change at both board and director level. This offered us some assurance about the service’s capacity for improvement’.
“We take the protection of our children very seriously and will take all steps necessary to meet the requirements outlined in the Care Inspectorate’s report which we believe provides an important foundation on which to build.”
The Scottish Government spokesperson added: “We were deeply concerned to learn of the issues identified by the Care Inspectorate during a recent inspection of St Mary’s Kenmure, an independent charitable provider of secure accommodation in Scotland.
“The safety and wellbeing of children in secure accommodation is paramount and the improvements identified in last month’s inspection are being taken forward at pace by St Mary’s board and management.
“We are working with St Mary’s and the Care Inspectorate to support the service and to monitor the improvement that the service has promised to undertake.”
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