'Deplorable' standard in children's centre

An unannounced inspection of a children's residential centre in Dublin in December found a "deplorable" standard of accommodation, according to a social services inspectorate report just published.

It also noted that most of the 23 recommendations made in an earlier inspection had not been fully implemented.

Two teenagers were living in the home in south Dublin at the time of the inspection. Decor was dated, there was rubbish in the garden, a washing line was broken and the house had a "general unkempt appearance".

The inspectors noted that the children's bedrooms had linoleum while the staff bedrooms had carpet.

The report said it was "deplorable that this standard of accommodation is considered acceptable by the HSE SWA [ south western area] for their young people living in this residential centre.

"There was evidence that the centre manager has requested funding for new fittings and furnishings and this funding should be made available as soon as possible," the report said.

Inspectors found "some poor management and care practices" and "poor" daily record keeping with "subjective and emotive language used to describe events".

The vetting of staff members was poor and there was no evidence of three written references on file.

However, inspectors found "warm relationships" between the young people and staff, with the teenagers' birthdays celebrated and outings organised. The staff were described as "experienced and stable".

Out of the 23 recommendations made in an earlier inspection, 11 had not been implemented, five had been only partially implemented and no information was available to ascertain the status of two other recommendations.

A HSE spokesman said many of these issues would soon be rectified with the appointment of a residential co-ordinator for the Dublin south west area. This person would co-ordinate a range of issues at children's care facilities, including management, maintenance and service delivery.

An inspectorate report on a second care home in the south of Dublin city also found an "unacceptable" standard of accommodation.While inspectors found "major improvements" since an earlier inspection, they said there was an "overall failure to deliver a child centred service".

According to HSE SWA policy, children in care under 12 should be placed in foster care where possible. However, one of the residents had been in the home for 12 years, since he was three. An 11-year-old girl had spent five years there.

"Inspectors were given no satisfactory explanation why these particular children were not placed in foster care during a time when other children of similar age and with a similar profile were being placed in foster care," the report said.

The HSE spokesman said the policy of foster care for under-12s was adhered to in most cases, but occasionally it was deemed more appropriate to place a child in a residential care setting.

Inspectors were also critical of the handling of a decision to close the unit. The children were told in April that the unit would close on July 1st because of changing circumstances.

"They were both extremely distressed and their confidence in the capacity of HSE SWA to provide a home for them was seriously undermined," the report said. The home was still open at the time of the inspection but its future remains uncertain.