Secure children's home

Secure children's homes (SCHs) in England and Wales are specialised residential facilities that provide care and education for young people who are either remanded by the court or placed for their own protection due to their high levels of vulnerability.^[1] These homes cater to children aged 10 to 17 years old who present significant risks to themselves or others and require a secure environment to ensure their safety and well-being.^[2]

Overview

Secure Children's Homes are distinct from other types of secure accommodation, such as Youth Offender Institutions (YOIs) and Secure Training Centres (STCs), in that they focus on providing intensive support, rehabilitation, and therapeutic interventions tailored to the individual needs of each child. SCHs are designed to be small-scale environments to ensure personalised care and a higher staff-to-child ratio.^{[citation needed]}

List of registered facilities

Secure Children's Home Register as of July 2024

SCH Name	Registered Provider	Responsible Individual	Registered Manager	Number of Beds	Ofsted Rating	Contact
Adel Beck Secure Children's Home	Leeds City Council	Benjamin Finley	Francis N'Jie	24	Good[3]	Google Maps
Aldine House Secure Centre	Sheffield City Council	Sally Williams	Joanne Peebles	12	Requires improvement to be good[3]	Google Maps
Atkinson Unit	Devon County Council	Steve Liddicott	Helen Bowkett	8	Outstanding[3]	Google Maps
Aycliffe Secure Services	Durham County Council	Martyn Stenton	Valerie Haigh	34	Good[3]	Google Maps
Barton Moss Secure Care Centre	Salford City Council	Sayma Khan	Kay Davidson	27	Good[3]	Google Maps
Clare Lodge	Peterborough City Council	Alison Bennett	Jeannette Winson	16	Good[3]	Google Maps
Clayfields House Secure Unit	Nottinghamshire County Council	Jennifer Whiston	Paul Thomas	20	Good[3]	Google Maps
Hillside Secure Children's Home	Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council			18		Google Maps
Kyloe House	Northumberland County Council	Adam Hall	Julie Tinkler	15	Good[3]	Google Maps
Lansdowne Secure Unit	East Sussex County Council	Kathy Marriott	Post vacant	7	Good[3]	Google Maps
Lincolnshire Secure Unit	Lincolnshire County Council	Tara Jones	David Clarke	12	Good[3]	Google Maps
Marydale Lodge	Nugent Care	Suzanne Murray	Andrea Marshall	12	Outstanding[3]	Google Maps
Swanwick Lodge	Hampshire County Council	Kieran Lyons	Sarah Herbert	10	Outstanding[3]	Google Maps
Vinney Green Secure Unit	South Gloucestershire Council	Catherine Boyce	David Ballard	24	Good[3]	Google Maps

Legal and policy framework

The operation of Secure Children's Homes in England and Wales is governed by a robust legal and policy framework designed to ensure the safety, welfare, and rights of the children in their care. Key legislation and guidelines include:

Children Act 1989

• Provides the foundational legal framework for the care and protection of children, including those placed in secure accommodation.
• Emphasises the welfare of the child as the paramount consideration.

Care Standards Act 2000

• Regulates the operation of SCHs, ensuring they meet national minimum standards for care, education, and safety.
• SCHs must be registered with and inspected by Ofsted, the regulatory body responsible for children's services.

Youth Justice Board (YJB) Guidelines

• Sets out the criteria and procedures for placing young offenders in SCHs.
• Focuses on rehabilitation and reducing reoffending through tailored interventions.

Secure Accommodation Regulations 1991

• Specifies the conditions under which children can be placed in secure accommodation, ensuring placements are made in the best interest of the child.
• Requires regular reviews and assessments to justify continued placement.

Human Rights Act 1998

• Ensures that the rights of children in secure accommodation are protected in accordance with the European Convention on Human Rights.
• Children must be treated with dignity and respect, with access to legal representation and advocacy services.

Challenges and future directions

Secure Children's Homes face several challenges, including:

• Funding and Resources: Ensuring sufficient funding to maintain high standards of care and support.
• Staffing: Recruiting and retaining skilled staff with the expertise to work with highly vulnerable children.
• Transition Support: Providing effective support for children transitioning out of secure accommodation to prevent reoffending and promote successful reintegration.

Recent initiatives have focused on enhancing therapeutic support, improving educational outcomes, and developing community-based alternatives to secure accommodation.

Secure Accommodation Network

The Secure Accommodation Network (SAN) is a collaborative network of Secure Children's Homes (SCHs) in England and Wales, working together to improve standards of care, share best practices, and advocate for the needs of the children in secure accommodation.^[4] The SAN aims to provide a unified voice for SCHs, promote continuous improvement, and ensure that every child receives the highest quality of care and support.