Investigator’s report criticises Stewartscare over how it handled complaints against staff

An independent investigator’s report has criticised management at Stewartscare – a disability service provider in the eastern region – over how it handled allegations against staff.

The Irish Times reported last December that a number of students from Trinity College, who had been on placement at Stewartscare, 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.

Reinstated
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.

It is understood that in a confidential interim report given to management at the organisation in recent days, Mr Halley maintained that, in the context of natural justice and fairness, Stewartscare did not afford the priority required to the staff in relation to many of the alleged incidents.

Informed sources have maintained that the abusive incidents alleged to have occurred included shower doors not being closed while individuals were being showered, clients being locked out of their bungalows and individuals being spoken of as if they were not present.

Highly placed sources maintained that Mr Halley said that in his forthcoming final report he would set out definitive evidence that some of the allegations were unfounded.

The interim report is also understood to have found that a student misidentified a member of staff about whom concerns were raised.

The interim report is understood to argue that the incidents referred to in the complaints allegedly took place in the early months of last year yet none of the students set out their concerns to their line managers at the time of their placement. These were not reported until November.

Services
Stewartscare, which was developed out of Stewarts Hospital in Palmerstown, Dublin, provides extensive onsite and community-based services for clients. It supports more than 300 residents and provides day services for some 600 clients, both adults and children.

Stewartscare did not comment last night on the basis it was only an interim report.

It is understood the organisation will be making a submission to Mr Halley before his final report is compiled.