Aycliffe Secure Services
Outline of Services
Aycliffe Secure Services is a 38 bed Local Authority Secure Unit situated in County Durham. It comprises:- Four residential houses.
- An Education department (school).
- A large sports hall.
- A small swimming pool.
- Play courts.
- Visitor and meeting rooms.
The houses each accommodate between eight and ten young people aged from 12 to 17 years. Three of the houses are mixed, and one is for boys only. The houses are staffed with up to 23.5 managers and workers with additional support at key times to help with a variety of interventions and activities.
Mobility from the secure perimeter is phased and increases as young people prepare to leave.
The Young People
Young people come to us from all over the country and are:- On remand.
- Serving the detention element of a Detention and Training Order (DTO).
- Serving a longer (Section 91) sentence for more serious offences.
- With us on grounds of welfare.
Length of Stay
This varies greatly. Young people on remand or serving short sentences (DTO’s) may be with us for two months or less. Others may stay for 18 months or more. Young people admitted on welfare grounds are with us initially for a maximum of 28 days, at which time a further three month order can be applied for.The Facilities
Young people who are with us for a little time benefit from:- Enhanced physical care, and health screening provided by visiting GPs and a community nurse team. A community psychiatric nurse will be in post soon.
- A period of stability in their lives.
- The benefits of relaxed planning for the future.
- Offence reduction work and other interventions.
- Regular education, individually tailored.
- Psychological and/or psychiatric screening and intervention if needed.
Education
All young people are required to attend education specifically targeted at their own assessed needs. Our education department has recently been considerably enhanced through a major new build.Many young people achieve GNVQ, GCSE, and AQA (Assessment and Qualification Alliance) Certificates in a variety of subjects.
For some youngsters, Aycliffe offers the longest uninterrupted period in school in their lives to date.
We have our own 'Connexions' advisor who acts as a link between Aycliffe and future educational and occupational provision.
During 'school holidays' youngsters participate in Themed Weeks of educational and creative activities.
Interventions
All young people staying with us are required to participate in a programme of interventions. These are provided by trained workers and include:- Offence reduction work.
- Victim awareness.
- Specific offence work tailored individually.
- Drug awareness.
- Life skills.
- Skill streaming (social skills).
- Citizenship.
- Sex education including the importance of relationship.
Young people have complete access to outside services monitoring their welfare, services such as the National Youth Advocacy Service and the Voice of the Child in Care
Leisure Activities
All young people participate in a number of purposeful leisure activities including:
- Sports.
- Arts and crafts.
- The creative arts, including the Arts Award.
- The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Young people regularly score highly in arts and crafts competitions including the prestigious 'Koestler Awards' contested annually in London. Other "shop windows" for young people's art and craft work include the annual YJB Art Show, and the "Ignite" celebrations of creativity of looked after yongsters in the North East.
Other Benefits of Residence
Apart from the more obvious benefits gleaned from staying with us, others include:- 'Time out' from family pressures.
- Being members of a 'captive audience' for interventions.
- Unconditional care.
- Developing appropriate relationships with adults.
- Developing appropriate relationships with peers.
Guidance for Families
Information for Visitors
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