Job fears at secure unit in Bishopbriggs

JOBS could be axed at a riot-hit secure unit in East Dunbartonshire. As many as 40 jobs could be at risk at St Mary’s Kenmure, which hit the headlines in March 2008 when a number of young offenders escaped and thousands of pounds worth of damage was caused.

Now the Scottish Government has backed a report calling for the number of residential care places in Scotland for young offenders and those at risk, under the age of 16, to be cut from 124 to 106.

The move will see six ‘secure beds’ at St Mary’s, in Bishopbriggs, being ‘mothballed’.

A spokesperson for the public sector union Unison said: “We have seen the report recommending downsizing and, while we accept there will be job losses, we do not accept that 40 jobs will have to go.

“We are about to enter into a period of negotiation with managers and will be looking to do everything we can to mitigate job losses and avoid any compulsory redundancies.”

St Mary’s is run by the Cora Foundation. A spokesperson for the St Mary’s board of management said: “The report’s recommendations accurately point to the need to reduce capacity within the secure estate for young people, while preserving the option of re-introducing services at short notice should the need arise.”

“Having collaborated in the expansion of the secure estate, the boards of managers are anxious to ensure that the excellent facilities created in recent years be preserved and used by groups such as those identified in the report, especially young people at high risk with mental health issues.”

Monsignor Peter Smith, chairman of the CORA board, said the report offered a welcome way forward which preserved the expertise built up over many years.

Strathkelvin and Bearsden MSP David Whitton said: “Obviously losing any jobs in the area is disappointing, but these are particularly specialised jobs dealing with troubled, young people.

“I would have hoped that the people involved will be found roles elsewhere in the social services sector.”

At that time of the riot, St Mary’s Kenmure had 31 secure beds. It will now have capacity for 18.