Residential care youth call for more time on inspections

YOUNG PEOPLE in residential care want inspectors to spend more time with them during visits, according to research.

The views of young people on inspections carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority were sought as part of a report by the Irish Association of Young People in Care for the authority.

The findings follow severe criticism of the care system in recent reports and the opening of an investigation into the deaths of at least 188 children who were in care or known to social services in the past decade.

The authority’s chief inspector of social services Dr Marion Witton said the report was particularly important in light of the Ryan report recommendation that inspectors should talk to and listen to children in care.

More than 20 recommendations were made in the report, based on interviews with 22 young people in care across the State. The authority is to “closely consider” the recommendations.

One of the main suggestions was that inspectors should spend more time with the residents in order to build trust and help the young people to be as honest as possible during interviews.

A quarter of those surveyed wanted more time with the inspectors so they could get to know young people and see their everyday activities. Some residents suggested the inspectors should stay overnight. Young people also suggested inspectors should read back notes taken during interviews to clarify what was said.

“Given what we have learned about the horrific abuse suffered in the past by children in institutional care, it is especially important that children today have every opportunity to talk with inspectors and have their voices heard,” said Jennifer Gargan, director of the association.

Spending time with young people was the most important part of the role, the authority’s inspection manager of childrens services Kieran O’Connor said.

Dr Witton said she would not rule out overnight inspections because there was value in seeing what happened in the evening.

The authority plans to bring former care residents on some inspections to hear their views, she said.

Changes in the way feedback is given to young people after inspections was another main recommendation of the report.

Some 80 per cent of young people said they did not hear anything about the inspection after it had taken place. This is despite the fact that the authority does send feedback after a visit.

Some young people reported the inspection did not result in any change, while others said their complaints had been followed up.

Most young people (82 per cent) did no know how to contact an inspector after their visit, and others were not sure if they were allowed to contact inspectors.

The majority of children had only experienced announced inspections (90 per cent), with just two children having experienced unannounced inspections.

A fifth of the young people wanted to see unannounced visits. One young person said that when staff were trying to impress the inspector, “the rules were enforced and things were being done”.

Most of the young people met the inspectors individually (86 per cent) and spoke positively of the experience.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS YOUNG PEOPLE IN CARE

ON INSPECTIONS

“It’s kinda good that people are coming out to see how you are . . . We are being fed and we are being looked after . . . the mattresses are hard but they’ve been that way for years.”

“In the past, places like those around the country, young people got battered. It’s good to see that someone makes sure bad things aren’t happening.”

ON VISITS

“They should be in every once in a while to know the way things are run in the house.”

ON STAFF DURING VISITS

“The rules were enforced and things were being done.”

ON INTERVIEWS

“It would be nicer to get to know the inspectors before they start firing questions at you.”

“Scribbling everything you say down and you can’t see what they are writing.”

“They were alright – they were nice and one was a vegetarian.”

ON FEEDBACK

“It would be nice to see your time wasn’t wasted . . . if the inspectors would get back to us about stuff.”

“Things changed when the inspectors came. I got a change of doctor after speaking to the inspector. I was asking staff to change my doctor for ages.”

ON CLOTHES:

“They probably have to wear suits to be professional . . . it can be a bit intimidating, like you’re in trouble. they should wear jeans and a top.”