Independent Monitoring Boards (Northern Ireland) IMBs in Northern Ireland are statutory bodies whose role is to monitor the treatment of prisoners and the conditions of their imprisonment. The Boards are made up of unpaid members of the community and fulfil their duties by carrying out regular visits to establishments. There are three Boards in Northern Ireland, one for each prison. Board members are appointed by the Northern Ireland Justice Minister. www.imb-ni.org.uk http://www.imb-ni.org.uk/publications.htm Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland MWCS is an independent statutory organisation working to safeguard the rights and welfare of everyone with a mental illness, learning disability or related condition. The mandate of MWCS is broad and its activities include monitoring the care and treatment of people detained under mental health law. www.mwcscot.org.uk http://www.mwcscot.org.uk/media/138481/ annual_report_-_easy_read_2012-13.pdf Northern Ireland Policing Board Independent Custody Visiting Scheme As in the rest of the UK, police custody suites in Northern Ireland receive regular, unannounced visits from custody visitors. Volunteers from the local community, custody visitors monitor the rights, health and well-being, and conditions of detention of those detained in police custody. www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/index/ publications/custody-visitors.htm http://www.nipolicingboard.org.uk/northern_ ireland_independent_custody_visiting_ scheme_final_pdf.pdf Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills Ofsted is a regulatory and inspection body that seeks to promote excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. In the context of detention, Ofsted inspects the care and educational provision for children in secure accommodation, and assesses the provision of education and training in prisons, young offender institutions and immigration removal centres as part of HMIP-led inspections. www.ofsted.gov.uk http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/ filedownloading/?file=documents/annualreports/s/Social%20Care%20Annual%20 Report%20201213.pdf&refer=0 Office of the Children’s Commissioner for England The role of the Children’s Commissioner is to promote awareness of the view and interests of children in England, to promote and protect their rights, and in particular to focus on those whose voices are least likely to be heard. The Commissioner has the power to enter any premises other than a private dwelling for the purpose of interviewing any child accommodated or cared for there, if the child consents. While the Commissioner does not carry out a regular programme of visits or inspections, she has a broad power to enter premises where children may be detained. www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/ content/publications/content_702 Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority The RQIA is empowered to monitor the availability and accessibility of health and social care services in Northern Ireland and promote improvement in the quality of 39