§ Sir Robert McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he has made appointments to his special group on youth treatment centres; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyOn 1 October 1991 my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health established a special group of outside people to provide independent advice about the youth treatment centres. Chaired by Mrs. Winifred Tumim, the group consists of: Dr. Zarrina Kurtz, assistant regional medical officer in South West Thames regional health authority; Mr. Tom White CBE, chief executive of the National Children's Homes; Mr. Harry Cayton, director of the Alzheimers Disease Society; and Dr. Michael Lindsay, from 1987 children's rights officer for Leicestershire social services department. Their responsibility is to provide an independent perspective on care and practice in the youth treatment service, with particular regard to ensuring that children's rights are properly safeguarded, and to advise the Secretary of State on these matters. Their periodic reports will be published.
The social services inspectorate remains the principal monitoring arm for detailed scrutiny of the standard of care, control, education and rehabilitation programmes provided in the centres. Medical and nursing experts and HMIs will form part of this evaluation. There will be a full inspection every three years and reports will be published.
On 1 April 1992, the service will be managed by a chief executive accountable to the Secretary of State for the facilities provided under section 82(5) of the Children Act 1989. After open competition Mr. Eugene Ostapuik, the director of Glenthorne YTC, has been appointed chief executive for the whole service. He will be chief executive designate with effect from 1 December 1991 and will take up post next April, initially for a three-year term. He will 309W be supported by an advisory committee, which will help him to keep the service abreast of child care practice. A service specification for the new organisation will be published in the new year. The Secretary of State's special group is being consulted at the drafting stage. Meanwhile, regulations and guidance on secure accommodation, which came into effect on 14 October 1991 under the Children Act 1989, have been applied administratively to the Glenthorne and St. Charles youth treatment centres.
On 24 June my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State announced temporary management changes at the St. Charles YTC following an inquiry into complaints about treatment at that centre, Official Report, Volume 193, col. 687–93. The disciplinary inquiry into the conduct of some members of staff at St. Charles YTC is continuing. My right hon. Friend also announced a review to ensure that the headquarters of the Department of Health had pursued with proper vigour and judgment the recommendations of the inspection by the social services inspectorate in 1988. He asked Sir Ewen Broadbent to consider the circumstances, and I am placing a copy of Sir Ewen's report in the Library. Sir Ewen concluded, broadly, that those parts of the Department closely concerned with the SSI inspection report acted with efficiency and vigour.
The YTCs cater for the country's most difficult adolescents. The work is always demanding, often stressful and the many achievements go largely unnoticed. The new management structure will promote better integration of care practice and standards as well as improved value for money.