Stay Safe

The key aim is to ensure the safety and security of children at Swanwick Lodge by providing a purpose built safe and secure child centred environment within which children can begin to address the issues that have led to the loss of their liberty.

Our key aim is to ensure the safety and security of children at Swanwick Lodge. As all our children are subject to detention as a result of a court order, we are legally obliged to ensure their security and restriction of liberty. We recognise that every child has the right to live free from discrimination and bullying but that cannot be achieved without active interventions and preventative measures.

Children are subject to ongoing risk assessments at the point of admission. These risk assessments are regularly updated, taking account of behaviour changes and emotional responses.

Safety

Swanwick Lodge is part of Hampshire Children’s Services and is fully committed to the principles and procedures as laid down by the Local Safeguarding Children’s Board. These procedures are adhered to rigorously.

Children at Swanwick Lodge are kept safe through high levels of supervision, comprehensive and constantly updated risk assessments from the admissions process through to their release. These risk assessments are regularly updated, taking account of behaviour changes and emotional responses. Any breach or attempted breach of the security is dealt with in a manner that ensures the ongoing safety and security of the child and other children placed at Swanwick Lodge. In the event of a child absconding, agreed procedures are followed.

As previously mentioned, all staff employed at Swanwick Lodge are recruited through Hampshire’s Recruitment and Selection Procedures, and are in accordance with Protection of Children Act 1999 and the Disqualification for Caring for Children Regulations 2002. All staff receive appropriate training and supervision in relation to child protection issues and procedures.

All placing authorities are required to provide an initial contact point and procedural details regarding their own child protection procedures. The placement reviewing procedures within Swanwick Lodge ensures regular monitoring of each child’s welfare and takes account of how their placement influences or is affected by other children.

Independent Visitors recruited through Action for Children, an Advocacy Project, offer children an independent contact person whilst at Swanwick Lodge. They visit weekly to meet with the children and can be allocated to individual children or act as an ‘advocate’ for individuals or group of children (e.g. in Young People’s Meetings)

Security

Troubled children and children in trouble need the very best facilities in custody and it is critical that they should be happy and healthy, safe and sound, well educated and helped to live fulfilling law abiding lives. Good facilities, consistent care and access to education, therapy and good healthcare are necessary to achieve these objectives and prepare children and young people to return to their communities. The key aim is to ensure the safety and security of children at Swanwick Lodge and as our children are subject to detention as a result of a court order, we are legally obliged to ensure their security and restriction of liberty. In addition, Swanwick Lodge is committed to reporting child protection incidents (and other reportable incidents), to Ofsted and the youth justice board, as required by regulation.

Swanwick Lodge’s unique and discreet design, location, good living, sporting and educational facilities and competent care, education, health and psychological professionals provides a good foundation for troubled children. Opened in 1996, Swanwick Lodge was purpose built on the site of an existing children’s residential complex. Its innovative design incorporated some of the existing building including a large gymnasium, extensive kitchen and some administrative areas. Security was achieved in the design of the building and the unit benefits from discreetness, as it is devoid of unsightly perimeter walls or security fencing.

Externally, building security is maintained using CCTV, situated on the building walls. There are no high walls or visible fencing as Swanwick Lodge wishes to maintain a discrete, friendly presentation to children, their families, visitors and our neighbours. Internal CCTV monitors movement in the public areas (CCTV recording of living and education areas is only available to senior management) and we have recently introduced a biometric facility for the safe storage and distribution of keys as part of our ongoing security programme.

All fire precautions are compliant with the standards as laid down by Hampshire County Council (Children’s Services Health and Safety Guidelines). Our policies and procedures relating to health and safety are checked by the Children’s Services Health and Safety Inspector. In addition, all staff and children are made aware of the fire procedures and checks and drills are made on a regular basis and recorded in the appropriate manuals.