§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many psychologists and assistants are currently in post at each Young Offenders Institution in(a) London and (b) the Home Counties; what is the full complement for each unit; and what were the number in post for each of the last five years. [34794]
§ Ms QuinThe number of psychologists and psychological assistants in post in Young Offender Institutions and the current complement of these units are:
Current Complement London Feltham 5 6 Home Counties Aylesbury 4 5 A visiting psychology service is provided to young offenders at Bullwood Hall, Dover and Reading, East Sutton Park can call upon the services of a psychologist when necessary.
Additionally, there are psychology units at Highpoint, Rochester and Woodhill. They provide a service to adult offenders but not to the young offender unit. The number of psychologists and pschological assistants in post and the complement of the psychology units in these three establishments are:
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Current Complement Home Counties Highpoint 3 3 Rochester 1 1 Woodhill 5 5 The number of psychologists and psychological assistants in post in the psychology units listed above for each of the last five years are:
Establishment 31.03.97 31.03.96 31.03.95 31.03.94 31.03.93 Aylesbury 3 3 5 5 4 Feltham 5 6 7 7 8 Highpoint 3 3 4 3 4 Rochester — — — — — Woodhill 3 3 3 3 2
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young offenders in young offenders units are assessed to be suffering from mental health problems; and how many are awaiting placement in a secure psychiatric hospital.[34804]
§ Ms QuinA study conducted by the Institute of Psychiatry for the Prison Service in 1988–89 indicated that a psychiatric diagnosis, including substance dependency or abuse, could be given to 33 per cent, of sentenced male youths, wherever detained. Data on female young offenders were not collated separately from data on adult women.
On 18 March 1998 the Mental Health Unit of the Home Office, which authorises transfers to hospital exercising the warrant of the Secretary of State, had no cases outstanding on which medical reports had been submitted by Young Offender Institutions recommending transfer to hospital under section 47 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the training and qualification requirements for staff of young offenders units(a) prior to employment and (b) during their term of employment [34803]
§ Ms QuinIndividuals who want to join the Prison Service as prison officers require five GCSEs or the equivalent. All newly recruited prison officers attend an eleven week course to equip them to work in a variety of prison establishments. Prison officers who will be working in Young Offender Institutions are also required to attend a specific module on the course which deals with issues related to working with young offenders.
The Prison Service, working with the Trust for the Study of Adolescence, has produced a specialist training pack "Working with Young People in Custody". This specialist training pack is delivered in the workplace and external accreditation is now being sought. The Senior Command Course, aimed at Governors who will be taking up their first 'in charge' post, deals with issues of governing a Young Offender Institution.
§ Dr. CableTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of young offenders on remand in Young Offenders Units were in the care of the local authority prior to remand in each of the last five years. [34793]
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§ Ms QuinIt is not known what percentage of young offenders on remand in Young Offender Institutions were in the care of the local authority prior to remand in each of the last five years as this information is not held centrally. However, according to the 1991 National Prison Survey, 43 per cent. of young offenders on remand said that they had been in the care of the local authority at some time in their childhood.