News, Buckinghamshire
Getty ImagesThirty-three members of staff working at a young offenders centre have been suspended or dismissed since November, Ofsted’s chief inspector said.
Sir Martyn Oliver wrote a letter to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood ahead of the release of an official report into Oakhill Secure Training Centre (STC) in Milton Keynes.
He wrote that between November 2024 and the end of July this year, 30 members of staff had been suspended, 23 of which were related to allegations about their conduct with children.
On 20 July, the centre’s director and one of its deputy directors were also suspended. A second deputy director was later dismissed.
Inspectors from Ofsted, HM Inspectorate of Prisons and the Care Quality Commission carried out a full inspection between 21 and 25 July.
The letter said the report, which has not yet been published, had found children living in unsanitary conditions, a lack of staff and poor safeguarding.
It also mentioned how allegations about staff conduct had not been shared with the human resources department, which meant staff were continuing to inappropriately work with children.
Some children had experienced unintentional pain when staff attempted to use physical restraint, according to the letter.
Sir Martyn wrote how medicines were not safely administered and visitors were not stopped from bringing in foods to which some children were allergic.
It was also found that all children were made to pay towards charities from their personal money.
Sir Martyn has invoked the urgent notification process which will require the secretary of state to respond within 28 days outlining how Oakhill STC will be improved.
GoogleOakhill STC was found to be inadequate at a previous inspection in October 2024. At that time, there were 68 boys and two girls living at the centre.
G4S, which runs Oakhill, appointed an interim director who has been in post since 14 July.
Youth justice minister Sir Nic Dakin said: “This is a truly shocking and unacceptable report.
“I have already visited Oakhill Secure Training Centre this week to ensure urgent action is being taken by G4S to prioritise the safety of the young people in their custody, and to further address the very serious concerns raised by Ofsted and the chief inspector.
“We will publish an action plan within the month to support them further in these efforts – and will not hesitate to take further action if needed.”
A spokesperson for Oakhill STC said: “The safety and welfare of children at Oakhill STC is our highest priority and we take the Ofsted inspection findings extremely seriously.
“We are working collaboratively with the Youth Custody Service and His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service to develop a robust action plan to address the concerns raised.”