Serious safeguarding concerns at bail hostel

"Serious safeguarding concerns" were identified at a bail hostel following an inspection, which found staff were working "under significant pressure".

Weston Approved Premises (AP) in Weymouth, Dorset, received a rating of requires improvement from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation.

Inspectors found AP "was not providing a consistently safe or high-quality service".

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said following the inspection "all safeguarding assessments for current residents at the premises were immediately reviewed, and we are urgently assessing staffing and resourcing".

AP's residential units provide temporary placements in the community for high-risk and complex people on probation, offering enhanced supervision and rehabilitative support to people following release from prison.

The Weston site offers accommodation for up to 27 adult men and had 21 residents at the time of the inspection in March. There are currently 18 residents.

The Inspectorate has issued an organisational alert to HM Prison and Probation Service because of "serious safeguarding concerns", the report said.

The alert focused on inadequate checks on residents at risk of overdose or self‑harm.

Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones said: "While the commitment of staff and managers was commendable, the situation was not sustainable and posed a risk to their health and wellbeing.

"The basic elements of safety and dignity must be addressed urgently."

Despite these difficulties, AP "demonstrated several strengths", according to the report.

Public protection arrangements were "good", and staff took a "proactive approach to monitoring risk, sharing information, and responding quickly when risks increased".

Relationships between staff and residents were "positive", and AP had "strong links with a wide range of partner organisations to support residents' rehabilitation".

Jones added that "significant work is now needed" to make sure residents are kept safe, supported effectively, and living in accommodation that "meets the standards expected of an approved premises".

The MoJ said the premises were closed last year but are currently open.

An MoJ spokesperson said: "We welcome the inspectors' recognition of the premises' dedicated staff, who are working under significant pressure to protect the public and manage risk."

They added that the Government inherited a "criminal justice system in crisis".