The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published a report on Crannóg Nua Special Care Unit, which is operated by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla). Special care units are secure residential designated centres for children aged 11 to 17 years. Children are placed in a special care unit by a High Court order, 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. 

This risk-based inspection focused on governance and management, programmes of care, protection, staffing, and risk management. Five regulations were assessed, four of which were compliant and one was substantially compliant.

HIQA found effective governance and oversight in the special care unit, which promoted good quality and safe care. There were robust management and oversight systems in place in relation to all incidents and restrictive practices. Young people’s safety and wellbeing was a paramount consideration in all decisions made about their care. The approach to risk-management was child centred and balanced safety with respecting and promoting young people’s rights. Young people’s placement plans were developed in collaboration with multidisciplinary teams, as well as the young people themselves, who were encouraged and supported to participate in planning for their care. 

There was effective management oversight of child protection and welfare concerns in the special care unit. Child protection concerns were reported appropriately, in a timely manner and all relevant persons were notified as required.

There was adequate staffing levels and staff had the required experience, knowledge and skills to provide good quality care to the five young people placed in the special care unit at the time of the inspection. The service had reduced their capacity from six young people to five in May 2025 in order to meet the needs of young people who required additional staffing and higher levels of supervision. 

Tusla submitted a satisfactory compliance plan following this inspection, detailing plans to address staffing requirements within the service. 

Note:

• 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.