House of Commons Hansard Written Answers for 18 Jul 2005 (pt 55)

18 Jul 2005 : Column 1508W—continued

Probation Service

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many places are available in probation hostels in England and Wales; and how many were occupied by high risk offenders on the latest date for which figures are available. [5004]

Mr. Charles Clarke: As at 31 March 2005, 2,241 bedspaces were available in approved premises, formerly bail and probation hostels. Of those, 918 were occupied by offenders who are assessed as high or very high risk of harm to the public.

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps the national probation directorate is taking to improve the retention of probation staff in probation areas in England and Wales. [4791]

Fiona Mactaggart [holding answer 16 June 2005]: The National Probation Service (NPS) seeks at all times to retain the right profile of staff to deliver a high standard of service and to meet a stringent set of performance targets. The latest available figures for turnover of operational staff in the probation service in England and Wales are as follows:
The latest available figures for turnover of operational staff in the probation service in England and Wales

Grade Percentage

SPO 6.30

SP 3.14

PO 7.07

TPO 4.88

PSO 9.47

Ops Total 7.60

Grade	Percentage
SPO	6.30
SP	3.14
PO	7.07
TPO	4.88
PSO	9.47
Ops Total	7.60

These figures are based on leavers in 2004–05 financial year who have left the service as a whole. For the same period the turnover rate for non-operational staff was 13.55 percent. The annual average turnover rate based on these figures is 10.06 percent. This figure is significantly better than the national average for the public and private sectors.

As part of the service's strategy for building and maintaining an excellent, fit for purpose organisation, we are investing in our people by developing and supporting staff, building and refreshing their motivation and skills. This is being achieved in a number of ways including: designing and implementing new policies on pay, reward and conditions of service, work/life balance policies including flexible working; investment in leadership, management, training and development: and the development of a national workload measurement tool.

18 Jul 2005 : Column 1509W

These and other initiatives are designed, in part, to maintain a balanced workforce and make the NPS an employer of choice.

However a small number of staff will always leave an organisation because their circumstances change or because they want to develop a career elsewhere. For staff committed to a career in the probation service we hope that that the measures outlined above will provide rewarding working environment.

Secure Training Centres

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of self-harm have been recorded in each secure training centre since they came into operation. [10981]

Mr. Charles Clarke [holding answer 11 July 2005]: Secure training centres record every instance of self harm and injury, including minor ones.

No young people from Medway, Rainsbrook or Oakhill required hospital treatment as a result of self-harm during the period for which data are available (2001 onwards).

With the tragic exception of Adam Rickwood, who died in August 2004, no young people at Hassockfield required hospital treatment as a result of self-harm during that period.

Details are given in the following table:
Self harm in secure training centres

2001⁽⁸⁵⁾ 2002 2003 2004

Medway 49 40 39 219

Hassockfield 29 18 49 138

Rainsbrook 13 35 84 70

Oakhill⁽⁸⁶⁾ — — — 29

⁽⁸⁵⁾Data for the period prior to 2001 is not available.
⁽⁸⁶⁾Oakhill secure training centre opened in August 2004.

	2001⁽⁸⁵⁾	2002	2003	2004
Medway	49	40	39	219
Hassockfield	29	18	49	138
Rainsbrook	13	35	84	70
Oakhill⁽⁸⁶⁾	—	—	—	29

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many child protection matters have been referred to the local child protection team at each secure training centre; and what the outcome was of each referral. [10983]

Mr. Charles Clarke [holding answer 11 July 2005]: The following table sets out the available data.
References of secure training centre trainees to local child protection teams

Centre 2002 2003 2004 2005

Medway ⁽⁸⁷⁾— ⁽⁸⁸⁾27 ⁽⁸⁸⁾16 ⁽⁸⁸⁾6

Rainsbrook ⁽⁸⁷⁾— ⁽⁸⁷⁾— ⁽⁸⁸⁾2 0

Hassockfield ⁽⁸⁸⁾45 ⁽⁸⁸⁾31 ⁽⁸⁸⁾35 ⁽⁸⁸⁾9

— — ⁽⁸⁹⁾1 ⁽⁸⁹⁾2

— — ⁽⁹⁰⁾1 —

Oakhill (opened August 2004) — — ⁽⁸⁸⁾26 ⁽⁸⁸⁾12

— — — ⁽⁸⁹⁾1

— — — ⁽⁹¹⁾1

⁽⁸⁷⁾Data not readily available.
⁽⁸⁸⁾No further action by CP team or police.
⁽⁸⁹⁾Matter outstanding.
⁽⁹⁰⁾Employment of one staff member terminated following charge for alleged assault.
⁽⁹¹⁾CP team advised dismissal of staff member following inappropriate use of restraint.
Note:
Where there is no further action by Child Protection team (CP) or the police, the allegations are subject to the centre's internal investigation procedures. Details of these outcomes are not held centrally.

18 Jul 2005 : Column 1510W

Centre	2002	2003	2004	2005
Medway	⁽⁸⁷⁾—	⁽⁸⁸⁾27	⁽⁸⁸⁾16	⁽⁸⁸⁾6

Rainsbrook	⁽⁸⁷⁾—	⁽⁸⁷⁾—	⁽⁸⁸⁾2	0

Hassockfield	⁽⁸⁸⁾45	⁽⁸⁸⁾31	⁽⁸⁸⁾35	⁽⁸⁸⁾9
	—	—	⁽⁸⁹⁾1	⁽⁸⁹⁾2
	—	—	⁽⁹⁰⁾1	—
Oakhill (opened August 2004)	—	—	⁽⁸⁸⁾26	⁽⁸⁸⁾12
	—	—	—	⁽⁸⁹⁾1
	—	—	—	⁽⁹¹⁾1

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the rates of pay are for (a) duty directors, (b) duty operation managers, (c) training supervisors, (d) training assistants, (e) control room staff, (f) nurses and (g) other staff at secure training centres. [11000]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Rates of pay for the staff at secure training centres are as follows.
Pay scales in secure training centres

Oakhill⁽⁹²⁾ Medway, Rainsbrook⁽⁹³⁾

Duty directors £38,000 to £40,000 ⁽⁹⁴⁾—

Duty operation managers £26,000 to £30,000 ⁽⁹⁴⁾—

Training supervisors £22,000 ⁽⁹⁵⁾£18,727

⁽⁹⁶⁾£20,214

Training assistants £18,000 ⁽⁹⁷⁾£16,524

⁽⁹⁸⁾£17,947

Control room staff £17,000 £17,139
Nurses In accordance with NHS pay scales ⁽⁹⁴⁾—

Other staff Other staff fit on pay scale of
£15,000 to £26,000 ⁽⁹⁴⁾—

⁽⁹²⁾basic 42 hour week
⁽⁹³⁾basic 40 hour week
⁽⁹⁴⁾Commercial in confidence
⁽⁹⁵⁾Night Supervisors
⁽⁹⁶⁾Day Supervisors
⁽⁹⁷⁾Night Assistants
⁽⁹⁸⁾Day Assistants

Hassockfield uses different staffing categories

Centre Hassockfield⁽⁹⁹⁾ (£)

Duty director 33,000

Head of education 34,226

Residential care manager 28,135

Residential care team leader 19,831

Care officers 15,856

Ops officers 14,916

Nurses 24,870

Admin staff ⁽¹⁰⁰⁾15,000

⁽⁹⁹⁾basic 40 hour week
⁽¹⁰⁰⁾average

	Oakhill⁽⁹²⁾	Medway, Rainsbrook⁽⁹³⁾
Duty directors	£38,000 to £40,000	⁽⁹⁴⁾—
Duty operation managers	£26,000 to £30,000	⁽⁹⁴⁾—
Training supervisors	£22,000	⁽⁹⁵⁾£18,727
		⁽⁹⁶⁾£20,214
Training assistants	£18,000	⁽⁹⁷⁾£16,524
		⁽⁹⁸⁾£17,947
Control room staff	£17,000	£17,139
Nurses In accordance with NHS pay scales	⁽⁹⁴⁾—
Other staff	Other staff fit on pay scale of £15,000 to £26,000	⁽⁹⁴⁾—

Centre	Hassockfield⁽⁹⁹⁾ (£)
Duty director	33,000
Head of education	34,226
Residential care manager	28,135
Residential care team leader	19,831
Care officers	15,856
Ops officers	14,916
Nurses	24,870
Admin staff	⁽¹⁰⁰⁾15,000

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many members of staff at each secure training centre have been dismissed for misconduct in each of the last three years; and what reasons were given in each case. [11001]

Mr. Charles Clarke: Details for 2003 onwards are given in the following table:

18 Jul 2005 : Column 1511W

Reasons for dismissal of STC employees

Centre Year/Period Reason for dismissal

Medway 2003 One member of staff dismissed for unacceptable comments, gestures and making physical contact with a female colleague

2004 One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate comments, verbally abusive language, unacceptable comments of a sexual nature, refusal to comply with operational instruction

2004 One member of staff dismissed for sexual harassment

2004 One member of staff dismissed for falsifying records; not completing SASH (Suicide and Self Harm) watches or 15 minute watches

Rainsbrook 2003 One member of staff dismissed for falsifying records; not completing SASH watches or 15 minute watches

Oakhill 2005 One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate use of force

Hassockfield 2003 One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate behaviour

2004 One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate use of force

2004 One member of staff dismissed for failure to report an incident

2005 One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate use of force

Centre	Year/Period	Reason for dismissal
Medway	2003	One member of staff dismissed for unacceptable comments, gestures and making physical contact with a female colleague
	2004	One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate comments, verbally abusive language, unacceptable comments of a sexual nature, refusal to comply with operational instruction
	2004	One member of staff dismissed for sexual harassment
	2004	One member of staff dismissed for falsifying records; not completing SASH (Suicide and Self Harm) watches or 15 minute watches
Rainsbrook	2003	One member of staff dismissed for falsifying records; not completing SASH watches or 15 minute watches
Oakhill	2005	One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate use of force
Hassockfield	2003	One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate behaviour
	2004	One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate use of force
	2004	One member of staff dismissed for failure to report an incident
	2005	One member of staff dismissed for inappropriate use of force

Mr. Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of staff being referred to the Protection of Children Act (POCA) list have been recorded at each secure training centre since it came into operation; and how many referrals to the POCA list have resulted in names being included on the list. [11002]

Mr. Charles Clarke: The information requested is given in the table.
Referrals to POCA list

Centre Referrals to
POCA list Permanently included on list

Medway 4 0

Rainsbrook 1 0

Oakhill 1 1

Hassockfield 9 0

Centre	Referrals to POCA list	Permanently included on list
Medway	4	0
Rainsbrook	1	0
Oakhill	1	1
Hassockfield	9	0

Next Section

Index

Home Page