The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published an inspection report on a children’s residential centre.

HIQA is authorised by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs under Section 69 of the Child Care Act, 1991 as amended by Section 26 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011, to inspect children’s residential care services provided by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla). HIQA monitors Tusla’s performance against the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres and reports on its findings to the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.

An announced inspection of a statutory children’s residential centre in the Tusla South region was carried out between 3 and 4 November 2020. The findings of this inspection indicated fair levels of compliance with the national standards. Some areas of improvement were also identified. 

Inspectors found that management systems were well established in the centre. Staff members were appropriately supervised and their respective roles and responsibilities were clearly defined. However, more cohesion was required between this and another centre located on the same campus to ensure decisions regarding the referral and admission of children to each centre did not pose a risk to vulnerable children. 

The inspector found that children were well cared for in the centre. Care planning documentation was up to date for all children and staff were proactive in how they worked with the children. There was good communication between staff and the social work department in relation to continuity of care. The children spoke positively about living in the centre, the “kind and caring” staff and the care that they received. 

Risk management systems were in place in the centre. While the measures put in place to manage risk were effective, the inspector found that some created a more restrictive environment for children. Safeguarding measures were also in place, however, an inability to complete a collective risk assessment across all admissions on the campus impacted on ensuring children’s safety.  

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