Report finds no evidence of abuse at Stewarts Care home

A report has found no evidence of abuse at Stewarts Care, a residential home for people with disabilities.

The Irish Times reported last December that a number of students from Trinity College, who had been on placement at Stewarts Care, raised concerns about the treatment of clients.

About 11 staff were subsequently suspended and an external investigation team – chaired by independent mediator and investigator Jim Halley – was brought in.

On foot of a preliminary report just before Christmas, the staff concerned were reinstated but moved to administrative duties pending further investigations into complaints about standards of care.

In a statement yesterday, Stewarts Care, said it had now received the final report of independent investigator Jim Halley and it found no evidence of any abuse at the home. “It makes a number of findings and related recommendations for the improvement of practice. These recommendations have been accepted by Stewarts Care,” it said.

“All of the staff identified in the original expressions of concerns, who were initially suspended and then returned to work on administrative duties only, will now return to full duty with immediate effect,” it added.

Stewarts Care said it takes its obligations to all service users as being its highest priority and welcomes the confirmation that no abuses were found.

It has issued copies of the report - with all names removed - to the families and carers of the service users identified, to the staff involved and their representatives, to the student nurses and to the appropriate authorities.

It said it will also be communicating with staff and service users families generally in respect of the report’s recommendations.