Children's special care unit 'in a state of crisis'

SOCIAL SERVICES inspectors have found that a special care unit for vulnerable children is “in a state of crisis” and is struggling to provide safe and secure care.

A report by inspectors from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) strongly criticises management failings at the Gleann Alainn high-support unit in Co Cork, and says children are exhibiting signs of “disturbed and extremely high-risk behaviour”.

Its findings include:

* Children were being locked in their bedrooms from 7.30pm;

* Periodic loss of control of children’s behaviour;

* Some 25 instances of children going missing or absconding from the unit in a single year;

* Serious deficiencies in the recording of serious events such as self-harm;

* Lack of reliable information on how many children were restrained;

* Complaints and concerns over the standard of care for children not being recorded on files.

The purpose of Gleann Alainn is to provide secure residential care for up to seven girls aged between 11 and 17 years on admission.

The children are detained under High Court orders that provide for the liberty of a child to be restricted to secure their safety and welfare needs on the basis that they pose a serious risk to themselves or others.

At the time of the inspection, there were six children detained in the unit.

The unit was staffed by 22 full-time permanent childcare leaders and a part-time temporary childcare leader. It also had 14 agency staff that provided cover for staff leave or illness.

While the acting unit manager was qualified, many staff were not, and Garda checks were not in evidence for some agency staff.

Children at the unit were also interviewed.

They told inspectors they had experienced incidents where staff were not in control.

They also said they did not always feel safe in the unit, and mentioned bullying and assaults by other residents.

“This was unacceptable. All children in care, irrespective of the setting, have a right to feel safe and have their welfare and development promoted,” the report states.

The physical condition of the unit was also of significant concern to inspectors, although works were in progress at the time of the inspection to strengthen door frames and ensure door locks were in good working order.

Despite the failings of the unit, the report states there was evidence of times when there were good relationships and warmth between staff and children.

Children told inspectors that in some cases being in the unit was of benefit to them and they had positive relationships with individual members of staff.

Overall, however, inspectors found that national standards in relation to management, staffing and security were not met.

They said the delivery of a good standard of care to the children required improvement and close monitoring by managers.

The report sets out recommendations such as taking steps to provide for safe and effective care for children at the unit; improving the quality of management and reporting structures; and improving the management of young people’s behaviour.

Hiqa said there would be a follow-up inspection to monitor the implementation of recommendations next month.

Special care units such as Gleann Alainn were established following a High Court order in the late 1990s which found the State had a duty to provide care to troubled children.

Reports by Hiqa into all three special care units in Ireland have at times highlighted issues such as severe staff shortages, a lack of clarity on lines of accountability and a crisis of confidence in the national special care and high-support management team.