Secure unit underused, says social care minister

The social care minister says cuts to the White Hoe secure unit for young people are needed because the facility is underused.

Yesterday, the department revealed it would need just two bedrooms year-round rather than the four currently available – halving the cost of the facility.

Chris Robertshaw MHK says changes will be made to the contract his department currently has with St Christophers, the charity which operates White Hoe.

He says high running costs had been an issue within the department for some time: