Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether he has produced a forecast of the number of children who are considered potentially likely to self-harm in youth custodial settings over the Christmas 2020 period.

Forecasting potential levels of self-harm is challenging, however, the rates of self-harm across the Youth Custody Service estate are reviewed regularly. We are very aware of the difficulties many children in custody will have experienced as a result of Covid-19 and the need to follow physical distancing, and that feelings of uncertainty may be heightened over Christmas. We will be working hard to support children in custody at this time, especially for those children who are at a greater risk of self-harm. As a result of the pandemic, ‘SECURE STAIRS’ - the Framework for Integrated Care jointly led by NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHS E&I) and the YCS - has enhanced its approach to meet the needs of both children and staff focusing on the importance of connectivity, whilst adhering to physical distancing principles.

We have also been progressing work with a focus to some of the most vulnerable and challenging young people in custody through the Critical Case Pathway (CCP), which is jointly led by the YCS’s Directorate lead Psychologist and NHS E&I Quality Lead. The CCP is a multi-disciplinary pathway which aims to provide oversight, assurance and support to professionals working with the most exceptionally complex young people in the youth custody estate, and take action as necessary to ensure effective assessment, planning and co-ordination of services to ensure that every effort is made to meet the needs of this group of children.

HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP) visited Cookham Wood, Parc and Wetherby Young Offender Institutions on 21 April, and to Feltham and Werrington on 7 July to undertake monitoring visits, with reports subsequently published on the HMIP website. HMIP noted that self-harm had reduced since the start of the pandemic at four of the five sites (and was stable at the fifth); however, we continue to monitor rates of self-harm very closely, whilst also looking to enhance regime opportunities, in a manner which is safe for children and staff.