The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published an inspection report on Oberstown Children’s Detention Campus. 

An announced inspection was carried out in Oberstown Children Detention Campus between 10 and 12 December 2025. The inspection focused on five rules including; participation, positive behaviour, restrictive practices, authority to suspend the rules and staffing, management and governance. Of the five rules assessed, the provider was found to be compliant with two rules, substantially compliant with one rule and not compliant with two rules. 

Overall, HIQA found that the provider was delivering a good quality, child-centred and safe service to young people. The safety of young people was prioritised and staff provided a caring and supportive environment for young people to learn and develop their potential. Promoting young people’s rights and participation in decision-making were central to the approach implemented by staff in the service. 

Young people were supported to understand norms of good behaviour through one-to-one work and a programme of key working sessions delivered by staff and key workers. There were a number of incentives and supports to motivate young people to sustain good behaviours. The restorative and relationship-based approach used by staff, as well as participation in programmes and activities, promoted positive behaviour. 

Oberstown Children Detention Campus had a management and governance system in place with clear lines of authority and accountability. Progress had been made since the last inspection in relation to management and governance of restrictive practices. Further improvements were required as inadequate staffing levels continued to result in the use of single separation which impacted on young people’s rights.

The provider had made concerted efforts to address the ongoing staffing challenges.  Despite these efforts, the shortage of staff in an environment of ever-increasing demand on the service posed a high risk. Workforce planning required improvement to ensure a strategic response was in place to address the ongoing challenges. 

Practice supervision was being delivered on a consistent basis and in line with policy. However, there was no formal performance management system in place at the time of the inspection. The quality of record keeping on young people’s files, in particular in relation to use of restrictive practices, required improvement to demonstrate that these practices are carried out in line with policies and procedures and to ensure effective management oversight. Some improvements were required to ensure consistent and timely recording on the systems in place to promote positive behaviour.

Note:     

• HIQA is authorised by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality under Section 185 of the Children Act 2001, as amended, to monitor Oberstown Children Detention Campus and provide advice to the Minister. 
• HIQA inspects Oberstown Children Detention Campus to ensure that the wellbeing, welfare and safety of children is promoted and protected, and to measure its compliance with the rules within the Oberstown Children Detention Campus Rights Policy Framework (2020) and compliance with Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017).
• A restrictive practice is a practice that interferes with the rights of young people. It may be physical or environmental in nature.
• Single separation is when a young person is separated from his or her peers to a room for as short a period of time as is necessary, due to one or both of the following reasons: where a young person is likely to cause significant harm to themself or others; where a young person is likely to cause significant damage to property that would compromise security and impact on the safety of others.