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Healthcare Standards for Children and Young People in Secure Settings

Developed by the RCPCH, in conjunction with the Royal College of General Practitioners, Royal College of Nursing, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Faculty of Forensic & Legal Medicine and Faculty of Public Health, the standards are designed the help plan, deliver and quality assure the provision of children and young people’s health services in secure settings.

Around 10,000 children and young people a year in the UK come into contact with secure settings. These children and young people are some of the most vulnerable, often suffering poor physical and mental health.

These new standards take a pathway approach, following the young person’s journey through a secure setting to aid multi-professional working. They will support healthcare professionals, commissioners, service providers, regulators, managers and governors to ensure that young people in secure settings received the care they need to improve their health outcomes.

The insights of young people in secure settings have influenced the development of the standards from the outset. Their key messages are echoed through the document as direct quotes. A poster has also been designed for young people to explain what they can expect from healthcare in secure settings.

The standards apply to children and young people aged between 10-17 (inclusive) on both welfare and justice placements in secure centres (young offender institutions, secure children’s homes, secure training centres and their equivalents).

Download the standards (PDF, 2.3MB, 54 pages)

Or the Welsh version (PDF, 1.9MB, 54 pages)

Download the poster for young people (PDF, 340KB, 1 page) and printer friendly version (PDF, 340KB, 1 page)

Read the full press release.

RCPCH Website

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