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Overview | SSI Background | Inspection Reports | Information for Children & Parents | Children's Standards | Social Care Guidance | Residential Care Services for older people | Information for nursing home providers | Registered Centres for Older People

Social Services Inspectorate

The Health Act 2007 places the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) within the Health Information and Quality Authority on a statutory basis as the Office of the Chief Inspector of Social Services with specific statutory functions. The work of the Inspectorate has been focused on children in care, primarily on inspection of residential care. Within the Authority its role has been expanded to include the inspection and registration of residential services in the public, private and voluntary sectors for older people and people with a disability. The sections of the Act that confer these functions will be enacted on a phased basis. The functions are -

  • Inspecting and registering residential services for older people.
  • Inspecting and registering residential services for children in need of care and protection. The SSI currently inspects statutory children's residential centres. The HSE inspect and register voluntary and private children's residential centres. Inspections are conducted against national standards developed by the Department of Health and Children.
  • Inspecting and registering residential services for people with a disability. There is currently no inspection or registration system for residential services for people with a disability.
  • Inspecting special care units. SSI currently inspects special care units against national standards developed by the Department of Health and Children.
  • Inspecting children detention schools. Prior to 2007 children's detention centres were inspected by the Department of Education and Science. SSI took over this function from March 2008.
  • Inspecting foster care services.
  • Inspecting the delivery by the HSE of day facilities, the scheme for boarding out of older people and the inspection of pre-school services.

The SSI is also involved in monitoring the standards set by the Authority in relation to the Independent Assessment of Need for people with intellectual and physical disabilities.