The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published a report on Ballydowd Special Care Unit. Special care units are secure residential units for children aged 11 years to 17 years. Children are placed in a special care unit by a court when their behaviour poses a risk of harm to their life, health, safety, development or welfare, and the placement is needed for the child’s care and protection. 

HIQA inspects special care units against the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Children in Special Care units) Regulations 2017 and the National Standards for Special Care Units. 

This announced inspection was carried out to monitor ongoing compliance with the regulations, and to gain further information in relation to the centre’s application to renew its registration. Overall, a good level of compliance with the regulations was found, with some improvement needed in areas such as accommodation, risk management and the implementation of quality improvement initiatives at unit level. Children received good quality care and support that was child centred, personalised and responsive to their individual needs. Children were supported to address difficulties that led to their detainment in the centre in a sensitive way. 

Governance of the centre had significantly improved since it was first registered in 2018. There were effective systems of monitoring and oversight in place. There was a well-defined management structure in the centre and clear lines of authority. 

Inspectors found that staffing levels were sufficient and there were improved levels of stability of staffing compared to previous inspections in 2020. There were strategies in place to address recruitment issues, which had a positive impact on recruiting staff into the centre. Overall, staff supervision and support had improved.

There was a good level of mentoring and support provided to managers. 
The safety and welfare of children was protected and promoted within the service and safeguarding measures had improved. While the process in place for reporting child protection concerns allowed for managerial oversight, it was not in line with Children First. Management of allegations of misconduct against staff was more thorough.

While risk management systems had improved, centre policies in relation to aggression and violence in the centre were not current and relevant and required updating. 

There were good infection control measures in the centre to mitigate against the risks associated with COVID-19 and to prevent the spread of infection. However, managers needed to ensure that compulsory wearing of masks, in line with centre policy, was adhered to at all times.

The report can be found on www.hiqa.ie.