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Staff “under significant pressure” at Weston Approved Premises in Dorset rated ‘Requires improvement’ following inspection

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Weston Approved Premises (AP) in Weymouth, Dorset has received an overall rating of ‘Requires improvement’ following an inspection by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Probation.

Inspectors found the AP was not providing a consistently safe or high-quality service, and the Inspectorate issued an organisational alert to HM Prison and Probation Service because of serious safeguarding concerns.

The alert focused on inadequate checks on residents at risk of overdose or self‑harm. More broadly, inspectors also identified insufficient staff safety measures and facilities that required significant improvement.

Chief Inspector of Probation, Martin Jones, said: “At Weston AP we saw a dedicated team working hard under significant pressure. 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, the AP demonstrated several strengths. 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 the AP had strong links with a wide range of partner organisations to support residents’ rehabilitation.   

Mr Jones added: “There are clear foundations to build on at Weston, but 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. I hope this inspection helps drive that improvement.”

The Inspectorate’s report makes 11 recommendations. Six are for Weston leadership team, including to ensure all staff receive regular, structured supervision and training to improve their understanding of processes to keep residents safe. Five recommendations are for HM Prison and Probation Service, including to provide immediate support to Weston to ensure that practice, systems, and processes are safe, and to urgently review staffing and resourcing to determine the levels required for the AP to operate safely.

ENDS 

Notes to editor 

  1. Approved Premises (APs) are residential units which provide temporary placements in the community for high-risk and complex people on probation. They offer enhanced supervision and rehabilitative support to individuals following release from prison.
  2. Weston offers accommodation for up to 27 adult men. At the time of our inspection in March 2026 there were 21 residents in placement.
  3. The Inspectorate uses a four-point scale: ‘Outstanding’, ‘Good’, ‘Requires improvement’ and ‘Inadequate’, rating specific aspects of each service (for APs – leadership, staffing, safety, public protection, and rehabilitation) and giving an overall rating.
  4. The report is available on the HM Inspectorate of Probation website on 11 May 2026 at 00.01.
  5. HM Inspectorate of Probation is the independent inspector of youth justice and probation services across England and Wales.
  6. For media enquiries, please contact Head of Communications: media@hmiprobation.gov.uk