Children at a juvenile detention centre in Salford are being locked in their bedrooms for hours on end due to staff shortages, a government watchdog has found.
Ofsted inspectors visited Barton Moss Secure Care Centre, run by Salford Council, after youngsters complained they were being 'inappropriately locked in their bedrooms for long periods of time, particularly at weekends, over the last two to three months'. Findings from the visit supported what children had said.
The secure care centre is a twenty-bed unit, with all beds contracted to the Youth Custody Service, a service geared at rehabilitating kids aged 10 to 18 in custody.
Practice 'becoming routine'
Ofsted inspector Jo Birtwhistle found the practice was 'becoming routine' and was happening in response to 'insufficient staff being on duty to keep children and staff safe'.
The report said: "It impacts on children's rights and is having a negative impact on children's health and wellbeing. Children reported feeling anxious and frustrated."
Birtwhistle also discovered that despite the lock-ins due to staff shortages, more children had joined the centre in the last few months, with leaders stating 'they did have sufficient staff at that time'.
Management oversight 'not robust'
"Management oversight of this practice is not robust," she added. "Inaccurate records are being kept, meaning that leaders do not have a clear understanding of how often children have been locked into their bedrooms outside their normal routines.
"Managers acknowledged that insufficient action has been taken, in some cases, in relation to the staff attendance policy. Overall, lack of management oversight and actions has led to significant impact on children's routines, care and wellbeing."
The findings were recorded during a 'monitoring visit' by the government watchdog. A previous full inspection by Ofsted in November 2025 deemed the facility to be 'good' except in children's quality of education and learning.
Council responds
A Salford City Council spokesperson said: "We acknowledge the findings of the recent inspection of Barton Moss Secure Care Centre. A comprehensive improvement plan is already being implemented, supported by strengthened leadership and governance arrangements, to address the areas identified.
"We remain focused on delivering high-quality care, support and safeguarding for children and young people, and on securing sustained improvements across the service."
