Read the report: HMYOI Parc

Inspectors to HMYOI Parc found a safe and stable establishment providing good outcomes across all our healthy prison tests for the 20 young people in its care.

The young offenders institution is located within Parc prison in South Wales but managed separately. Charlie Taylor, Chief Inspector of Prisons, said: “… this inspection has again shown the facility to be arguably the best performing young offender institution in the country.”

No child reported feeling unsafe at Parc at the time of the inspection. Levels of violence were lower than at our last visit and there were good attempts at conflict resolution. Help for children at risk of self-harm rightly focused on providing education and engagement with staff. All children were encouraged to keep in contact with family, which supported well-being and successful rehabilitation.

Staff maintained excellent relationships with children. Mr Taylor said:

“The culture was one of engagement, high expectations, and incentivisation of good behaviour. Staff modelled high standards of behaviour themselves and were prepared to tackle delinquency among young people when they saw it.”

Managers made themselves visible and morale was high.

Time out of cell was limited in inspections to similar facilities, but in Parc it was much better. Children received between eight and 11 hours a day unlocked during the week. Colleagues at Estyn reported positively on education provision; most children arrived with poor literacy and numeracy skills and these gaps were identified promptly using thorough assessments. This information was then used effectively to help children develop their skills, and nearly all children improved their literacy and numeracy skills by at least one level while in education.

Inspectors identified a lack of oversight in equality and diversity work, and while no children reported feeling unsupported by staff at the time of the inspection, the gap had the potential to cause problems in the future.

Mr Taylor said:

“The one caveat was that, in keeping with other YOIs, the number of children held at the time of our inspection was fairly low, and with a higher roll it is likely that the maintenance of these high standards will be tested. Notwithstanding, on its current performance Parc is setting a standard for the management of children and young people in custody. The director and her staff are to be congratulated on their achievements.”

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Notes to editors

1. Read the full HMYOI Parc report, published on 20 July 2022.
2. HM Inspectorate of Prisons is an independent inspectorate, inspecting places of detention to report on conditions and treatment and promote positive outcomes for those detained and the public.
3. The children’s unit in HMP & YOI Parc opened in March 2002 as a 28-cell facility for remanded children aged 15 to 18. In October 2004, it expanded to house 36 children aged 15 to18, both remand and sentenced, with a further expansion in February 2007 to 64 children. Initially the unit housed Welsh children but since March 2013 the court catchment area has covered Wales and South-west England.
4. At the time of this inspection, the establishment held 20 children.
5. Inspectors identified 12 examples of notable positive practice.
6. This inspection took place from 28 March to 8 April 2022.
7. Please contact Ed Owen at ed.owen1@hmiprisons.gov.uk if you would like more information.