Use of secure care in care and protection residences

What's important to us

We are all committed to working together to help our vulnerable children and young people thrive. When children and young people are required to come into our residences we want them to feel safe and secure. On occasions, it may be necessary for a child or young person to be placed in secure care in order for them to be safe.

Entering secure care is the highest form of intervention available within the residence. It is not a punishment and before the use of secure care, it is expected that a wide range of interventions are used or considered.

When in secure care, our focus must be to provide more support to help the child or young person work towards understanding their behaviour or working through strategies to keep themselves safe; this occurs through intensive activities and interventions.