Recommendation 15

HMPPS informed us there is a gap in provision in the North West.46 But it does not have any immediate plans to address this gap.47 The Ministry and HMPPS told us that their number one principle for designing provision and placing children is getting the best outcomes for the children. They acknowledged that there will always be spare capacity, and told us that their focus is on making sure they have the right sort of capacity, which is why they are focused on improving YOI provision, which is where most children are held.48 However, improving YOIs may not help improve options for placing the most vulnerable children. The Ministry gave examples of two YOIs, Wetherby and Feltham, that include specialist units for more high risk or vulnerable children but typically YOIs accommodate older children and are less suitable for children with complex needs.49 The National Audit Office report highlighted the Ministry and HMPSS’s acknowledgement that STC failures had heightened pressures to place children in YOIs that are less suitable for vulnerable children.50 44 C&AG’s Report, paras 3.3, 3.4 45 Q67, Q71 46 Q51 47 Q64–Q65 48 Q74 49 Q75: C&AG’s Report, para 1 50 C&AG’s Report, para 13 Secure training centres and secure schools 13 2 The secure school programme and understanding what works Delays and cost increases