St Mary’s Kenmure already operates a new, purpose built secure unit for 36 young people (includes 6 open beds) aged between 11 and 16.
The new Secure Unit
A Secure Unit is a residential facility designed to offer high quality personal support and education to emotionally and behaviourally challenging young people, in as safe and secure an environment as possible.
Young people are referred from the Children’s Panel system and sometimes from the Sheriff Court. It is not a prison, although the young people are not free to leave unless under supervision.
Location
St Mary’s Kenmure is situated in Bishopbriggs, East Dunbartonshire. The town centre, rail and bus station are approximately one mile from the campus.
A maximum of 36 young people are accommodated in St. Mary’s Kenmure.
Unit Managers
There are 6 unit teams, each consists of a Manager, Assistant Unit Manager and 10 Social Care Workers. Staff Recruitment procedures have been revised in line with recognised safe practice and the training needs of the school are being pursued to meet national registration targets. Currently these are qualification at SVQ Level III and HNC Social Care.
Educational staff must be registered by the General Teaching Council ( Scotland ). Teaching staff are expected to maintain a programme of Continuing Professional Development.
Training
St. Mary’s Kenmure promotes equal opportunities for all staff. A programme of induction, in-house training in Child Protection procedures and training in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Techniques run continuously. Specialist training programmes in areas such as; working with Trauma, Addressing Offending Behaviour, Assessment Techniques, Working with Sexually Harmful Young People, Working with Self-Harming Young People are also offered to the staff group.
Care Facilities
The campus style facility is formed by grouping an education centre, administration centre, catering centre and 5 house units around a large central village green containing an outdoor recreation centre. A 6 th house unit provides a facility for non-secure care. The central village green is also the main circulation route within the facility.
Young people enjoy bed-sit accommodation including toilet and shower en-suite with fixtures and fittings designed to limit self harm, grouped around a living/dining/kitchen area. Each house unit has a visiting area or alternatively visits can take place in the administration area.
Sports and Recreational Facilities
There is a well equipped fitness suite, gymnasium, swimming pool and an all weather outdoor playing field. Young People benefit from Physical Training Instruction in the evening and at weekends.
Educational Facilities
All pupils are offered a broad and balanced curriculum, which includes the follow subjects:
Art and design |
Information Technology Mathematics |
 |
| Drama |
Music |
| English |
Religious Education |
| Careers |
Physical Education |
| Modern Studies |
Science |
| Home Economics |
Technical Education |
| PSE |
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What We Do…..
 The major tasks performed by St Mary's Kenmure involve the establishment of a stable living environment which aims to minimise the negative effects of institutional life by a process of normalisation. To enable us to positively intervene and influence the factors which lead to the young person's admission, needs are assessed, individual care and education programmes developed, facilitating re-integration within the community.
All staff have a collective responsibility to meet the young people's physical and emotional needs in every situation in which they arise and the best interest of the young people being paramount.
Intellectual needs are met not only in the classroom setting, but by all staff in St Mary's Kenmure, valuing education in its widest sense, as a challenging life-long process.
The young people in St Mary's Kenmure, both boys and girls, are generally in the age range of twelve to sixteen years on admission and have come into compulsory care via the Children's Panel or the Court system for a variety of reasons including:-
- persistent absconding
- a risk to themselves or others
- at moral or physical risk
- serious offences
- chronics substance abuse
On admission many of the young people show a degree of hostility, a degree of anti-social behaviour, a degree of disturbed and disruptive behaviour and occasionally a degree of relief.
Specific training in First Aid, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention, Groupwork, Safe Care, and issues related to Alcohol, Drug and Substance abuse are offered to all professional staff.
Specialist training includes Working With Sexually Harmful Young People, Child Protection and Cognitive Skills. St Mary's training strategy for Social Care Staff, including Night Staff is based on staff being able to access SVQ in Social Care and at Level III and IV underpinned by access to HNC, and where appropriate Open University K100.
The Board of Managers also promote a range of advanced professional training when relevant, including Practice Teaching Certificate, Advanced Certificate in Residential Child Care, Post Qualifying Awards for management staff MCI at Levels III, IV and V, and access to the Chartered Teacher Programme for Educational Staff.
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