VISITING THE CENTRE
The following information has been made readily available in order to ensure that visitors arriving at Oakhill Secure Training Centre are able to enjoy their visit, and gain the maximum benefit from it. We hope you find this section helpful when planning your visit.
The environment in which all visits are held is important and to ensure they are stress free experiences, every effort is made to explain procedures clearly and reasons for decisions clarified.
While security is a major consideration in relation to all visits, there is always a relaxed atmosphere when the clearly specified rules of conduct and behaviour are observed by the young people and their visitors.
Please make sure you have read the details, so you are aware of the procedures and regulations when you visit.
CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT VISITING OAKHILL STC
FRIENDS & FAMILY VISITS
How to book a visit:
To book a visit, please call 01908 866000 and select the appropriate option.
Visiting times:
Monday – Friday: 16.30 – 20.30
Saturday/ Sunday: 08.30 – 20.30
(various time slots available – please ask for details)
ID:
On every visit, each visitor must bring photographic ID with them. This can be one of the following:
If you do not have any of these, then a photograph signed by the young person’s Social/YOT worker AND a covering letter from them (on official headed paper) will be accepted.
Arriving at the centre:
- If you arrive without the appropriate identification for each person, your visit will not take place as you will not be permitted to enter the centre
- Only the visitors named on the booking will be allowed to visit
- Only THREE people can visit at any one time
- You will be searched upon arrival, to ensure the safety and security of our young people
- All coats, hooded garments and head covering (except those worn for religious reasons) should be left outside the building
- Please arrive 15 minutes before your visit starts so you can book in and be searched
Prohibited items:
For safety and security reasons, you are not permitted to bring certain items on site. Click here for more details.
Babies and children:
We recognise that sometimes it is necessary to bring babies or young children along during visits. The centre will do its best to facilitate this in the easiest way possible. However, due to security reasons, no bags or pushchairs will be allowed into the visits room. Please also remember that there can only be THREE visitors at any one time.
Please also be advised the children in attendance with you will also require a search, however, this will be done sensitively.
Assisted Visits Scheme:
The Assisted Visits Scheme helps families visit young people who have been sentenced by the courts and are being held in custody in Secure Training Centres (STCs).
The scheme is open to all families, regardless of income and covers parents (including step-parents) and carers, brothers and sisters (including step-siblings), grandparents, aunts and uncles.
Phone Contact:
All young people are given £5 phone credit per week to use. Anything above this will need to be paid for by the young person (or their family).
Only those on the young person’s approved contact list can call in.
Monday – Friday
12:00 – 13:30 (professional calls only)
18:00 – 20:30 (personal calls)
Saturday/Sunday
10:00 – 20:30
Skype Services:
If it is difficult for you to visit Oakhill, then approved contacts are welcome to use our Skype service. You will need to speak to your child’s Caseworker in the resettlement team to book a Skype call – call 01908 866000, or email Parentmail-oakhill@uk.g4s.com
Post:
You are welcome to write letters to your child at the centre. Send your post to:
(your child’s full name)
Oakhill Secure Training Centre
Chalgrove Field
Oakhill
Milton Keynes
MK5 6AJ
Young people will be provided with writing equipment if they wish to send letters to their families.
Prohibited items – searching and security
To ensure that the safety and security for all young people and staff is maintained, visitors to Oakhill will undergo a search prior to being allowed entry to the centre. This is completed by a member of the security team.
Searching is necessary for the following reasons:
- Locating and seizing prohibited items and unauthorised items
- Preventing self-harm or suicide
- Preventing injury to staff and/or another young person(s)
- Preventing substance misuse
- Preventing damage to buildings and equipment
- Preventing escape
To maintain the safety and security of the centre, you are not allowed to bring the following items into the centre:
- Batteries
- Mobile phones
- Lighters and matches
- Cigarettes and tobacco
- Alcohol
- Solvents (glue, tippex, etc.)
- Any items made from glass
- String
- Toxic felt tip pens
- Plastic bags
- Staples
- Razor blades
- Knives, tools etc.
- Aerosols of any kind
- Drugs/medicine
- Heavy items which could be used as weapons/missiles
- Items that could be used as a rope, cord or ligature
- Disinfectant/cleaning agents
- Nail varnish or nail varnish remover
- Chewing gum
- Self-recorded videos, CDs or DVDs
- Any publication, video, CDs or DVDs which carry a parental guidance sticker
- Toiletries
- Sweets or food items
- Keys
- Money or credit/debit cards
- Any other items deemed to present a health and safety or security risk
Assisted Visits Scheme:
What is it?
The Assisted Visit Scheme helps families visit young people who have been sentenced by the courts and are being held in custody in Secure Training Centres (STCs)
Who can claim?
The Assisted Visit Scheme is open to all sentenced young people’s families, regardless of income. The scheme covers parents (including step-parents) and carers, siblings (including step-siblings), grandparents, aunts and uncles.
What can I claim for?
The scheme covers one visit per week for each young person at Oakhill. The visit can either be a social visit or to attend a review. Up to 2 adults (over 16 years of age) and 3 children can be included on each claim.
What do I do now?
Firstly, you must book your visit. To do this, call Oakhill Control Room on 01908 866000.
Train tickets:
At the same time as you book a visit, you can request train tickets. When these are booked, you will be able to collect them from your train station ticket machines.
Expenses:
If you are travelling by car, we can help with fuel costs. This will be at the rate of 20p per mile, based on an online calculation of the distance travelled from your home address to Oakhill.
If you are away from your home for more than 5 hours, then we will pay £2.55 for each adult and child, to contribute towards the cost of a snack. If you are away for more than 10 hours, then we will pay £5.10.
Claim Forms:
If you have already paid for your own tickets, you can apply for a refund. Please make sure you keep your tickets and send them in with the claim form. Claim forms are available from Oakhill reception, or you can click here to print a copy.
Overnight stays:
If you need to stay overnight due to long journey times, or need a registered childminder whilst you visit Oakhill, please contact us for details.
PROFESSIONAL VISITS
Official visitors will be permitted to enter with document files (subject to search) but not with mobile telephones or other electronic equipment. Audio and video playing facilities will be made available if requested at the time of booking.
Legal or other official visits will be conducted privately in one of the meeting rooms.
One of the following forms of photo ID must also be presented upon arrival:
