The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published a report on Coovagh House 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 against the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Children in Special Care units) Regulations 2017 and the National Standards for Special Care Units, which apply to special care units in Ireland. 

An announced inspection of Coovagh House Special Care Unit was carried out on 20 and 22 July 2020. 

This inspection found that children felt safe in the centre. Children who met with inspectors said that they received good support from the staff team, and they spoke positively about all aspects of the service. Some of the challenges children said they encountered related to their transition from the service. 

Children received good quality integrated care while placed in the special care unit, which included collaboration with external professionals, such as social workers. The management structures and systems in place supported a good delivery of care. The service was well monitored, and there was good day-to-day management of risk. However, the provider did not fully meet their requirements, as set out in the regulations. 

The centre was adequately resourced in terms of staffing, but the level of professional supervision provided to staff members in the special care unit required improvement. Although children were well cared for on a daily basis, improvements were required to ensure that the individual needs of all children were fully met. 

The special care unit provided a plan to address the non-compliances identified in this inspection report, along with timelines for implementation.

The report and compliance plan can be found on www.hiqa.ie.