All children and young people understand the importance of healthy living, and are encouraged and enabled to participate in and enjoy physical education in safety,
regardless of their ability. The programme of activities is inclusive and well planned. It is varied and includes indoor and outdoor activities.
3.33 Physical education facilities and resources were good, but the outdoor area was not used enough.
Access to PE was good and the facilities were used well, with plans to increase the small amount of accredited learning available. Support for boys who were less confident about their physical fitness and those who were referred to improve their fitness or health was effective.
3.34 The PE facilities and resources were good. They included a large sports hall used for indoor
football, volleyball and basketball, a well-equipped room for weight training, and a well- maintained outdoor football pitch. A team of six qualified instructors provided an appropriate level of instruction and support. An accredited course in sports science had been introduced recently and further accredited courses were planned. However, insufficient use was made of the large outdoor area and, other than football, no outdoor activities were organised.
3.35 Boys had good access to PE facilities during the week, in the evening and at the weekend. A
high proportion used the gym regularly and participated in a wide range of activities. Boys who were less confident about using the gym were able to use the facilities at different times to other users and had access to a separate, smaller weights room. There were good links with the local community through a football team which played regularly in a local league. This provided good opportunities for boys to engage in competitive sport and develop teamwork skills and self-discipline.
3.36 Induction to the gym provided boys with an appropriate overview of the facilities and
covered health and safety issues fully. PE staff provided good support for boys referred to the gym to improve their fitness and health. They promoted healthy living appropriately, including the importance of a balanced diet. PE staff undertook a full assessment of the risks associated with all activities and equipment and took appropriate action where necessary to minimise risk.
3.37 Good use was made of feedback from boys to improve the service. Annual surveys and
feedback from the Youth Council had led to improvements and to a proposed indoor cricket activity. A notice board provided clear information about comments received and actions taken in response to feedback.
3.38 There were too few showers for the number of gym users. Only nine cubicles were available
and boys had to wait too long for a shower.
Recommendations
3.39 The outdoor field should be used more effectively to promote the health and fitness of boys.
Section 4. Resettlement
Pre-release and resettlement
Expected outcomes:
Planning for a child or young person’s release or transfer starts on their arrival at the establishment. Resettlement underpins the work of the whole establishment, supported by strategic partnerships in the community and informed by assessment of young
people’s risk and need. Ongoing planning ensures a seamless transition into the community.
4.1 The strategic management of resettlement was good, although some improvements were required to the policy. Use of release on temporary licence was being promoted and some very useful tracking of outcomes was being carried out.
4.2 The governance of resettlement was managed by the head of reducing reoffending and head of casework. Resettlement work was well organised and the casework team were closely involved in pathway work. This integrated approach helped ensure there were effective outcomes for boys.
4.3 The comprehensive reducing reoffending policy was informed by an annual needs analysis, which was being revised. Many questions on the existing prison needs analysis survey required only closed responses and the opportunity for boys to comment on the quality of their experiences was limited.
4.4 The resettlement policy identified key pathway priorities and included the additional pathway of ‘case management and transitions’, supporting the transition from custody to community and partnership working. There were good links with a variety of partnership agencies and lead responsibility had been identified for each pathway.
4.5 The policy did not cover how the establishment should meet the identified needs of specific groups, for example black and minority ethnic boys.
4.6 There was no action plan but reducing reoffending meetings each quarter were well attended and minutes demonstrated action to develop services.
4.7 Since March 2013, the establishment had requested accommodation and education, training and employment outcomes for children from youth offending teams (YOTs) three months after release. Findings showed that while most children were released to settled
accommodation, such as family, others were placed in hostel or bed and breakfast
accommodation. Although all boys were released with some form of education, training or employment (ETE), half the boys were not in ETE three months later (see section on reintegration planning). Findings had been shared with YOT senior managers for discussion and action.
4.8 During the previous year, 15 boys had been granted 99 ROTLs; placements were fully supervised for the first two weeks. Boys were told about ROTL opportunities at review meetings and we observed how this motivated them.
4.9 The establishment had recently started to work in partnership with Staffordshire County Council Open Door, providing voluntary work experience ROTL placements linked to the work and training completed by boys in the establishment. This initiative looked very
promising. Pertemps recruitment agency supported employment opportunities for boys after release.
Recommendation
4.10 The reducing reoffending policy should describe how the establishment should meet the identified needs of specific groups of boys.
Housekeeping point
4.11 The needs analysis questionnaire should give boys the opportunity to comment on the
quality of their experiences.