Secure Accommodation Orders & Deprivation of Liberty Orders

Secure Accommodation

A secure accommodation order is a legal order made by a court that requires a child or young person to be placed in a secure children’s home or secure training centre. The order is typically made when a child or young person has been assessed as being at risk of harm, or has committed a serious offense and is considered to be a risk to the public. The order is intended to protect the child or young person and the public, while also providing the child or young person with the care and support they need to address the issues that led to the order being made. The order can be made for a specific period of time, and can be reviewed and extended or revoked by the court as necessary.

Where are secure accommodation units?

In the United Kingdom, secure accommodation units are typically located in secure children’s homes or secure training centres. These facilities are specially designed and equipped to provide a safe and secure environment for children and young people who have been placed there under a secure accommodation order.

Secure children’s homes are residential facilities that provide accommodation, care and support for children and young people who are assessed as being at risk of harm. They are staffed by trained professionals who work with the child or young person to address the issues that led to them being placed in secure accommodation.

Secure training centres, meanwhile, are facilities that provide accommodation, care and education for young people aged 12 to 17 who have been placed there under a secure accommodation order for committing a serious offence. They are staffed by trained professionals who work with the young person to address the issues that led to their offending behaviour, and provide education and training opportunities to help them reintegrate back into society.

Both Secure Children’s homes and Secure training centres are located in different parts of the United Kingdom, and are run by different organisations such as local authorities or privately run companies.

Deprivation of Liberty Orders

A deprivation of liberty order in the context of proceedings involving children relates to a situation where a child has to be deprived of their liberties in order to keep them safe. These orders are only made where necessary, for set time periods and are reviewed regularly to ensure that the order is not in place for longer than it needs to be. A deprivation of liberty can be for example – locking doors or windows to a placement, removal of electronic devices, 2:1 or 3:1 supervision of a child.