The standards
The Department of Health and Children have produced standards, which set out how children and young people should be looked after in children’s residential centres, special care units and foster care settings.
Inspectors check against these standards to see that you are being looked after properly. You can also use them to see what should and should not be happening in places where you live. Read the children’s version of the standards and the Children's Book about Foster Care.
We have produced National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children For Health Service Executive Children and Family Services.
The inspection
An inspection is a visit by inspectors who will talk to you about what it is like to live in a residential centre. They also talk to the staff, your parents and to your social workers. Inspectors are people whose job it is to visit all children's residential centres to make sure that young people are being cared for safely and well. Inspections take place so that we can find out:
- if you are being looked after properly
- if you are involved in decisions about your life and your future
- if you are listened to and your opinions taken seriously
- if things that need to be done for you are happening
- if you and your family are treated with respect
- if you are treated the same as your friends in school or in your neighbourhood
- if there is anything that makes you unhappy and that you would like to see changed
- if plans are being made for your future.
How do I take part?
The inspectors would like to meet and talk with you during the visit to your centre. We are very interested in what you have to say, as you know best what living in your centre is like. We hope you will agree to meet with us, even for a short while.
What will you do with what I tell you?
We keep any information that we may have about you in accordance with strict Government rules. We write a report saying what we found and what changes, if any, should be made. Nothing we say in the report will identify any of the young people living in the centre. The report is sent to the manager of your centre and to the Health Service Executive. Reports are also posted on our website. We also send a short report to you.
What happens next?
The HSE produces a report that says how the changes we recommended in the inspection report will be made in your centre. Some of these changes can be made right away and some may take more time. Our inspectors follow up until all the changes are made. The findings of the follow-up inspections are published on our website alongside the original inspection reports.
More information
Please read our standards for further information. To find out more about how the inspection process works, see our section on inspection.
You can also:
Phone: 01 814 7400
Email: inspections@hiqa.ie
Or write to: Health Information and Quality Authority
Social Services Inspectorate
George’s Court
George’s Lane
Smithfield
Dublin 7.
