Bosses at a secure children’s home that was slammed by Ofsted last month are taking “sufficient action” to address concerns, a fresh report concludes. Government inspectors issued compliance notices against Vinney Green in Emersons Green, run by South Gloucestershire Council, after finding youngsters were subjected to “unlawful, painful” physical restraint and unjustified use of solitary confinement for up to three days.
They gave an overall rating of inadequate and demanded urgent action while criticising leaders for “repeated failures” over a number of years. A monitoring visit in June to assess progress has now concluded that necessary improvements are being made and the children say it feels “much calmer”.
In its latest report, published earlier this month, Ofsted said the Youth Custody Service had stopped placing youngsters at the unit following the “serious concerns” raised during the damning full inspection in April. But it said: “Sufficient action has been taken to address the action points set out in the compliance notices.
Read more: Vinney Green secure unit uses 'unlawful, painful' physical restraint of youngsters, Ofsted finds
“Senior leaders have, alongside Ofsted’s previous inspection report, identified shortfalls in the quality of care and shared these with the wider staff team.” The report said an improvement board comprising the home’s managers and external professionals had been set up to ensure improvement in the youngsters’ “care, safety and well-being” but that it was too early to determine its impact.
It said the unit’s “responsible individual”, the council’s head of integrated children’s services Jo Cross, had committed to spending more time there to provide a “more rigorous level of scrutiny”. Ofsted said the head of education, who was in charge of the home on the day of the monitoring visit, had a “well-informed awareness” of its strengths and weaknesses and spoke passionately about the positive steps being taken to “begin to change the culture”.
The report said: “Managers and staff have been provided with good-quality training in the legal criteria that determine the circumstances when physical restraint and single separation (where children are locked in an area when they meet the legal criteria of being a significant risk to themselves or others) can be used with children. Additionally, staff are receiving training in how to promote positive behaviour.
“They demonstrated a sound understanding of how to use de-escalation techniques to try and avoid the need for physical restraint.” It said there had been three incidents of physical restraint since the last inspection with “improved management monitoring and oversight” of them.
“Where shortfalls in staff practice have been identified, managers have acted,” Ofsted said. "Managers have made it clear to staff that the ‘finger and thumb’ physical restraint must never be used on children.
“There have been no incidents of this hold being used since the last inspection. There have also been no incidents of physical restraint being used to bring about children’s compliance with staff requests.
“Single separation has been used four times with children since the last inspection. Records demonstrate that the use is in line with regulations.
“Children told inspectors that the home feels much calmer.” It said the manager had been absent from the home, which holds up to 24 young offenders, since May and that senior leaders were recruiting an interim manager.
Read next:
Vinney Green secure children's home ‘improving’ after damning Ofsted report
'Weapons' found at Vinney Green secure unit by Ofsted inspectors
Vinney Green Secure Unit lashes out at Ofsted after critical report
POLITICS: To keep up to date with latest Bristol politics news, and discuss thoughts with other residents, join our Bristol politics news and discussion here. You can also sign up to our politics newsletter here .
Click here for the latest headlines from in and around Bristol.
