The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published two inspection reports on Ballydowd Special Care Unit and Crannóg Nua 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. 

Announced inspections were carried out of Ballydowd Special Care Unit on 13 October 2020 and of Crannóg Nua Special Care Unit on 29 September 2020. Inspection findings in both units were positive and the level of compliance with specific regulations assessed was good with all regulations found to be compliant or substantially compliant. 

It was evident that Ballydowd Special Care Unit had responded well to the findings of a previous inspection, which had identified risks related to safeguarding practices and staffing resources. Governance and management arrangements and systems had been reviewed and strengthened. Proactive steps were being taken to ensure child protection and welfare concerns and allegations against staff members were being managed effectively and in a timely way. 

Crannóg Nua Special Care Unit was a well-run service, with strong management and oversight arrangements. There was a child-focused approach to practice and improvements were promoted on an ongoing basis. 

Measures were in place to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19. Children who talked with inspectors over the course of these inspections were generally content in their placements. They were satisfied that contact with the important people in their lives continued, particularly in light of the restrictions on services due to COVID-19. Social work contact was good and planning for children was in place. Some of the children expressed their uncertainty about where they would be placed after their time in special care, and were unsatisfied with delays in moving on from these placements. 

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