Children's unit to stop new admissions over 'risk to life' fears

A secure unit for children has been ordered to stop accepting new admissions by a watchdog because it would create a “serious risk to the life” of its residents.

The Care Inspectorate said it had “serious and significant concerns” about the quality of care at St Mary’s Kenmure in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire.

An improvement notice sets out the need for “significant improvements” at the unit within weeks and adds a condition to its registration preventing any new admissions from taking place.

St Mary's stated it had "taken action" to begin implementing the requested changes.

A spokesperson for the Care Inspectorate said: “An inspection has identified serious and significant concerns about the quality of care experienced by young people at St Mary’s Kenmure in East Dunbartonshire.

“We understand this is a difficult and distressing time for young people, their families and staff at the service.

“However, our first priority is always the health and wellbeing of young people."

They added that there was a "serious risk to the life, health or wellbeing of people currently using the service if more young people were admitted to the service at this time".

The facility cares for a maximum of 24 people across four units.

Among the improvements demanded by the care inspectorate are that it must provide maximum security, meaning that doors and windows must be secured, items which could cause harm are not accessible to young people there and that crisis activation and response systems are "fully responsive".

Other areas for improvement include ensuring that there is "effective recording, oversight and analysis of incidents including restrictive practices", which covers making sure "no young people are subject to restraint".

The report has also stated that staffing numbers need to be "sufficient" enough to handle young people's needs and that any agency staff need to be checked to ensure they are competent enough to handle the job, while "effective safeguarding" also needs to be improved.

The report's findings are required to be acted on throughout October and November.

The unit's website states that it will provide "the right help, at the right time to children and young people, their families and wider world, whose needs require highly specialist support and intervention."

It adds that all care staff are Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) registered while all teachers are registered with the General Teaching Council.

A spokesman for St Mary’s said: “We take the Care Inspectorate’s findings very seriously and we have taken action to make immediate improvements to ensure safe staffing levels and the protection of children.

"We will work with the Care Inspectorate and Scottish government to ensure that the required improvements are made and sustained.”