Section Three The second year – activities and key issues by type of detention CSSIW found that the young people’s views were listened to and taken into account through weekly meetings. These meetings were recorded, although one unit in the centre did not always record actions, and that should be rectified. CSSIW noted that, while the young people’s opportunities to make everyday choices were necessarily restricted by the nature of the centre, within the boundaries set, the young people were encouraged to make as many choices as they could. As the only secure children’s home in Wales, many of the residents at Hillside are placed far from their families. With this in mind, CSSIW was pleased to note that a residential visitor suite was available for families who travelled long distances for visits. Scotland In Scotland, children and young people may be placed in secure accommodation when they pose a serious risk to either themselves or others and are likely to run away or abscond from a more open setting. There are seven secure accommodation services in Scotland and all were monitored in 2010–11 by the Care Commission. On 1 April 2011, the Care Commission merged with another organisation, to become Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (‘Care Inspectorate’). The Care Inspectorate has since taken on the Care Commission’s monitoring role. The Care Commission visited each service twice a year, with one visit being unannounced. It monitored the quality of care and support, the environment, the staffing and management, and leadership, although each area was not assessed at every inspection. In 2010–11, the Commission was mostly positive about secure accommodation services. One service, for example, had struck a good balance between security and care, with young people feeling safe and valued. The service was effective at involving young people and their parents or carers; staff were highly skilled; and young people’s health and wellbeing had a high profile. The Care Commission made several recommendations on areas for improvement in relation to other services, including: • services should develop their participative approach and should involve young people and their carers in evaluating the service • services should ensure that complaints are followed up appropriately and that young people receive feedback • staff should be regularly trained in safe methods of restraint • staffing levels should be adequate to meet the needs of young people. Northern Ireland In Northern Ireland, young people aged 13 years and over may be placed in a regional secure care centre if they meet the required legal criteria: the young person poses a risk to himself and/or others or is likely to abscond if placed in a more open setting. The centre for Northern Ireland accommodates 16 young people in two eight-bed units. The centre was inspected twice during the year by RQIA; one inspection was announced and one was unannounced. The inspections covered specific standards which examined the individual therapeutic work carried out by staff with the young people; education in the centre; and statutory records, as well as the day-to-day functioning 35