Highlights from the report include:

• Very positive relationships between staff and young people, with consistently constructive interactions
• Equality of outcomes for all young people at the centre to ensure that no young person is disadvantaged
• Resettlement of young people back into their communities is good with the importance of immediate resettlement planning “embedded in the culture of the centre”
• A strong adherence to the “Breaking the Cycle” programme allowing young people to participate in off-site reparation work and community activity to help them turn away from crime

Medway Secure Training Centre Director, Ralph Marchant, said:

“This is a positive report, which recognises the hard work of all the staff at Medway to create an environment where young people are safe and encouraged to build appropriate skills to help them to return to their communities.  Getting resettlement right is so important in helping young people turn away from crime and we have worked hard to build links with community mentors to support young people prior to their release to help them secure training opportunities and employment after they leave the centre.   

“I am particularly pleased inspectors acknowledged how we had acted on recommendations in previous reports and we will be looking at how best to take forward those in this latest report.  We are absolutely focussed on improving the outcomes for young people in our care and we will continue to work with our partners in local authorities and the Youth Justice Board to help return young people to their communities with improved chances of avoiding reoffending.”