Data for young people residing at various institutions: FOI release

Information requested

• Since August 2024, please provide a figure from the first of each month (September – August 2025) of how many young people were housed in Good Shepherd Centre, Bishopton on that day who were deemed a risk to themselves, and had not been accused or convicted of a crime.
• Since August 2024, please provide a figure from the first of each month (September – August 2025) of how many young people were housed in Good Shepherd Centre, Bishopton on that day who were deemed a risk to the public, or had been accused or convicted of a crime.
• Since August 2024, please provide a figure from the first of each month (September – August 2025) of how many young people were housed in Kibble Safe Centre, Paisley on that day who were deemed a risk to themselves, and had not been accused or convicted of a crime.
• Since August 2024, please provide a figure from the first of each month (September – August 2025) of how many young people were housed in Kibble Safe Centre, Paisley on that day who were deemed a risk to the public, or had been convicted or accused of a crime.
• Since August 2024, please provide a figure from the first of each month (September – August 2025) of how many young people were housed in St Mary’s Kenmure, Bishopbriggs on that day who were deemed a risk to themselves, and had not been accused or convicted of a crime.
• Since August 2024, please provide a figure from the first of each month (September – August 2025) of how many young people were housed in St Mary’s Kenmure, Bishopbriggs on that day who were deemed a risk to the public, or had been convicted or accused of a crime.
• Since August 2024, please provide a figure from the first of each month (September – August 2025) of how many young people were housed in Rossie Secure Accommodation Services, Montrose on that day who were deemed a risk to themselves, and had not been accused or convicted of a crime.
• Since August 2024, please provide a figure from the first of each month (September – August 2025) of how many young people were housed in Rossie Secure Accommodation Services, Montrose on that day who were deemed a risk to the public, or had been convicted or accused of a crime.

Can you please provide the policy issued to staff that details how they should appropriately house young people who have committed or been accused of a crime, in the same building as a young person who has not committed or been accused of a crime, for each of the following facilities:

• Good Shepherd Centre, Bishopton
• Kibble Safe Centre, Paisley
• Rossie Secure Accommodation Services, Montrose
• St Mary’s Kenmure, Bishopbriggs

Response

The Scottish Government does not hold this information.

Our annual Children’s Social Work Statistics: Secure Care 2023-24 report data on children in secure care accommodation in Scotland, includes information on legal reasons for admission. Data for 2024-25, including in relation to the period covered by this request, is scheduled for publication in Spring 2026.

For a small number of placements, the only, or main, reason for a child coming to be accommodated in a particular setting will be that they have committed an offence. However, matters are often more complex and not as clear-cut as that. The reason for a child’s placement will usually be wrapped up in a number of wider considerations related to the statutory tests for admission, the consideration of alternatives and broader child welfare issues. Rather than a blanket separation of children, an individualised response is needed to the placement of each child into secure care. That affords the responsible professionals the opportunity to consider the needs and wellbeing of each child who might need a placement, alongside the needs and risks of other children already being cared for in a secure accommodation service.

Rigorous matching processes are in place in each centre based on The Care Inspectorate’s admissions guidance on the matching of looked after children into residential care services. It outlines expectations for services to plan and assess the needs of children before a placement begins and to consider how they will meet each child’s individual needs.

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