None of the staff at a health board-run children's home in Dublin holds a recognised qualification in childcare, it has emerged.
Not even the centre manager held a recognised qualification in residential childcare when the unit was inspected last September.The South Western Area Health Board did not provide the 24 staff at the children's residential centre with a formal induction. Garda clearance, which is required for childcare staff, was not obtained before all staff took up duty.
The revelations are contained in a report seen by The Irish Times which was compiled by the Irish Social Services Inspectorate following its inspection of the home, which was set up in 1999 and houses a number of children aged 2½ to 9 years. "At present none of the staff hold a recognised qualification in childcare and few hold related qualifications," the report said. However, it noted four staff, including the centre manager, were being seconded by the health board to attend college to attain a qualification in childcare.
Notwithstanding their lack of training, the inspectors praised the staff and said they were warm and caring. "The children have constant access to staff and are responded to with sensitivity and patience" and it said management and staff were committed to providing a high quality of care.
The report also found that Garda clearance for seven staff was not received until one month after they began work. For another member of staff, written clearance was not obtained for two months.
"The inspectors were informed that clearance was obtained verbally because of concern that the care and attention required by the children would suffer due to staff shortage. Notwithstanding staffing difficulties, all staff are required to be appropriately vetted before taking up duties, through the taking up of past employer references, including the most recent employer reference and Garda clearance."
In a statement last night, the health board said efforts had been made continuously to recruit staff with the required qualifications but had proved unsuccessful. It said this could "be mainly accounted for by the national shortage of qualified staff". Written Garda clearances were now obtained in all cases before staff took up duty.