Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the HM Chief Inspector of Prisons publication entitled Report on an unannounced inspection of HMYOI Wetherby by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons (20 November – 7 December 2023), published on 5 March 2024, what steps he is taking to increase the amount custody support plans that are implemented.

The Youth Custody Service (YCS) is dedicating the resources needed to achieve consistent delivery of custody support plans (CuSP) to children and young people in the secure estate, enabling staff to spend the time they need with children to improve relationships, with in-depth support sessions, working on progression, goals and behaviour.

The YCS is delivering training to all Band 3 and 4 operational staff to ensure they are appropriately skilled to implement and review CuSP. A CuSP officer is being allocated to each child entering custody during the induction process, to provide consistent adult support through the child’s custody journey.

The YCS is also improving oversight of CuSP through monthly management meetings, which will communicate information on emerging risks, and ensure accountability for delivery, through scrutiny of data.

In accordance with the YCS’s improvement plan (the “CuSP ladder”), HMYOI Wetherby plans to increase delivery of CuSP across the year, and will ensure that CuSP sessions are held following significant events.