National Preventive Mechanism Ninth Annual Report 2017–18 unsatisfactory escort and court custody arrangements for children and young people and the lack of accurate Person Escort Records (PERs). The records sent by police and prisons when handing over custodies to the Prisoner Escort and Custody Services (PECS) were frequently inaccurate. Work to strengthen the LOs continued, with new health monitoring guidance being published for all observers to use and a protocol being agreed with PECS regarding the entry of observers into custody suites. Board officials undertook work throughout the year to strengthen the work undertaken by ICVs. The ICV Handbook was reviewed in order to improve accuracy and relevance and ensure practice matched policy. Self-introduction was introduced for ICVs visiting TACT detainees. Finally, the forms ICVs complete after their visit with detainees were amended to improve the quality and accuracy of data capture and support the provision of appropriate information to other stakeholders, including the IRTL. During the year, the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (MWCS) continued its programme of visits to services where people may be detained for the purpose of receiving care and treatment or may be receiving care and treatment while detained in other institutions, publishing a report on recommendations and outcomes from these visits in September 2017. In addition, MWCS published a number of thematic reports. The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) continued to lead joint inspections of England’s three secure training centres (STCs). Ofsted, with its partner inspectorates, began a review of the STC inspection framework, with agreed changes to be implemented from April 2019. It also continued to inspect secure children’s homes (SCHs) in England. Ofsted’s new social care common inspection framework (SCCIF) was implemented in February 2017, and all children’s homes, including SCHs, are now inspected under this framework. CQC agreed to assist Ofsted in its full inspections of SCHs from April 2018. Throughout the year, Ofsted joined HMI Prisons to evaluate learning and skills and work activities in prisons and young offender institutions (YOIs) in England. In June 2017 the Northern Ireland Policing Board’s (the Board) Independent Custody Visiting Scheme (NIPBICVS) recognised the commitment of its volunteers by celebrating Volunteers Week for the first time. In July, the Board was reaccredited with Investing in Volunteers, the UK quality standard for good practice in volunteer management. Training of ICVs continued throughout the year, including sessions on equality, transgender awareness and TACT detention, in addition to the hosting of the Board’s annual Volunteer Conference. Learning from the transgender awareness training session was shared with key stakeholders, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which has now introduced transgender training for new custody suite sergeants in Northern Ireland. 44 During the year, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) began an internal programme of transformation and reform to consider how it could be best structured to deliver its priorities into the future, and to ensure it remains best placed to respond to the changing external environment. In partnership with Queen’s University Belfast, RQIA reviewed and evaluated evidence about the effectiveness