Social Services Inspectorate

The Social Care aspect of the Authority’s work is governed by the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI), referred to in the Health Act 2007 as the Office of the Chief Inspector. The Social Services Inspectorate works to protect vulnerable people of all ages who live in residential care settings (are receiving residential care services) and to ensure that these people are receiving an appropriate standard and quality of service. Primarily, the remit of the Social Services Inspectorate covers residential services for older people, people with disabilities and children (including foster care services and children detention schools).

Our remit for residential services for older people includes:

• registration and inspection of residential services for older people against our standards and current legislation
• inspection of the delivery by the HSE of day facilities, the scheme for boarding out of older people.

Our remit for children’s services includes:

• inspection of statutory children's residential centres. Inspections are conducted against national standards developed by the Department of Health and Children. The Health Service Executive inspects and registers voluntary and private children's residential centres
• inspection of special care units. We currently inspect special care units against national standards developed by the Department of Health and Children
• inspection of children detention schools
• inspection of foster care services

Our remit for residential services for people with disabilities includes:

• Developing standards for residential services for people with disabilities. (Inspection and registration of these services will begin when the relevant legislation is enacted).
• Monitoring the standards set by the Authority in relation to the Independent Assessment of Need for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.

For more information, contact us