A father has called for the closure of an unsafe secure unit after his son suffered “incalculable harm” while being housed “alongside criminals.”

Staff at St Mary’s Kenmure, in East Dunbartonshire, used excessive levels of physical restraint on young people and the safety of children in care was “consistently compromised”, according to a damning Care Inspectorate report.

The watchdog banned any new entry to the unit after saying children sent there faced a “serious risk” to their lives.

The center is the largest of its kind in Scotland and houses up to 24 children aged between 11 and 18, some of whom have been referred by children’s courts and hearings.

“I can’t understand why they put my son in the unit with teenagers who have committed crimes.”

Dad of boy staying at St Mary’s Kenmure

According to the St Mary’s Kenmure website, care and education at the unit is provided by staff registered with the Scottish Council for Social Services and the General Teaching Council.

However, a report published by the Care Inspectorate found that employees at St Mary’s Kenmure were using “high levels of physical restraint” on young people and the safety of those in care was “consistently compromised”.

One parent, whose son was placed in the unit to receive mental health support, believes time spent at St Mary’s has had a detrimental effect.

“I can’t understand why they have put my son in the unit with teenagers who have committed crimes,” he told STV News.

“These people might be in your life now, but they shouldn’t be. Teenagers were free to roam the hallways due to lack of staff.

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“The unit is not safe for staff or children. I feel my son was at greater risk while at St Mary’s.

“They were threatened while there and harassed. How does that help someone who is there receive mental health care?

“It actually makes things worse. My son shouldn’t have been there.

“They have done incalculable damage to my son. My son has witnessed violent attacks there.

“I can’t understand why that unit is still open; it should be closed.”

St Mary’s Kenmure is one of four units in Scotland now allowed to house young offenders under the age of 18 alongside vulnerable children placed there for their welfare.

In September, all under-18s previously detained at Polmont Young Offenders Institution (YOI), near Falkirk, were moved to secure care settings when the Scottish Government implemented its Children (Care and Justice) (Scotland) Act ), which contains provisions to end the detention of under-18s in YOI in Scotland.

On August 28, rules ending new admissions of children to YOIs came into force.

The father believes that youth who have been convicted of crimes should not be housed in the same unit as those who must receive care due to their mental health.

He believes the Health Care Inspectorate report validates his concerns.

“The system is set up to fail,” he said.

“You’re eliminating one risk but putting my son somewhere with even more risk.

“If I needed help for my mental health today, I would not be imprisoned with criminals. I don’t understand why they did this to my son.

“This is going to have a huge impact on them.”

The Scottish Government says secure units are the best place for children who are the subject of court proceedings and child hearing systems.

A spokesperson said: “Secure accommodation providers look after children placed there by the children’s hearing system or the courts. They have the experience and knowledge to provide support and care to children who have experienced, or are experiencing, extreme needs, risks and vulnerabilities in their lives.

“There are robust procedures in place to match children to placements. Individualized risk assessments and plans are made to meet the needs of each child and consider their well-being, ensuring that the safety and security of all children and staff is paramount.”

St Mary’s Kenmure says it takes children’s safety “seriously” and recognizes the need to improve the care provided.

A spokesperson for St Mary’s Kenmure said: “The management and staff at St Mary’s, Kenmure, recognize the need to improve the quality of care and safeguarding of our children.

“As the Health Care Inspectorate report states: ‘Prior to this inspection, significant changes had occurred at both board and director level. This offered us some security about the ability to improve the service.”

“We take the protection of our children very seriously and will take all necessary steps to meet the requirements outlined in the Care Inspectorate report, which we believe provides an important foundation on which to build.”

The Scottish Government spokesperson added: “We were deeply concerned to learn of the issues identified by the Care Inspectorate during a recent inspection of St Mary’s Kenmure, an independent charity providing safe accommodation in Scotland.

“The safety and well-being of children in secure accommodation is paramount and St Mary’s board and management are implementing the improvements identified in last month’s inspection at pace.

“We are working with St Mary’s and the Care Inspectorate to support the service and monitor the improvements the service has committed to making.”

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