The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published an inspection report on Oberstown Children Detention Campus.

HIQA is authorised by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs under section 185 of the Children Act 2001, as amended, to monitor Oberstown Children Detention Campus and provide advice to the Minister. HIQA inspects Oberstown Children Detention Campus to ensure that the wellbeing, welfare and safety of children is promoted and protected, and to measure its compliance with the Standards and Criteria for Children Detention Schools (2008) and its compliance with Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017).

An unannounced inspection was carried out in Oberstown Children Detention Campus across three days between 16 and 18 July 2019. This inspection focused specifically on leadership, governance and management arrangements in place for the use of restrictive practices and the delivery of offending behaviour programmes. Of the eight standards assessed as part of this process, five were found to be compliant and one substantially compliant. Moderate non-compliance was found in the remaining two standards.

This inspection found that young people were well cared for on a daily basis, and they were able to describe a good standard of care to inspectors when, for example, they were physically restrained. They told inspectors that they felt safe in the Campus and that the staff team provided them with support, encouragement and opportunities when their behaviour was escalating to a point when a restrictive procedure may be applied. They also expressed that the staff team supported them to solve their problems in an appropriate way. However, poor quality record keeping did not always show how young people’s rights and best interests were consistently promoted when restrictive practices were used. In addition, not all restrictive practices used by staff were identified, recorded and reported as such, to ensure the delivery of consistently good quality and safe care. 

All of the young people who met with inspectors said that they were aware of the offending behaviour programmes available to them and that they were encouraged to take part in these. They said that the programmes they had attended helped them make positive decisions and choices in their lives related to behaviours which may influence them to offend in the future. Despite these positive findings, young people’s offences or tendencies towards a particular type of criminal offence was not assessed and could not inform the offending behaviour programmes being delivered. 

The use of restrictive practices remained significant in Oberstown, however, it was apparent during this inspection that managers and staff were committed to reducing these practices, without compromising the restrictions required to provide a safe and secure (locked) place of detention. There was a strategic approach taken to ensure these reductions continued and, also, to ensure offending behaviour programmes were being developed on an ongoing basis.

There was good leadership of the Campus and reporting systems were in place. These reporting arrangements ensured managers and the Board of Management were aware of incidents where restrictive practices were used. While there were improvements in the reporting of these practices, there was a need to ensure all types of restrictive practices were subjected to the same level of scrutiny.

Other areas of practice which were identified as requiring improvement in this inspection related to the quality of staff records, the consistent provision of staff supervision and the development and review of policies related to the use of restrictive practices.

A satisfactory action plan was submitted by Oberstown Children Detention Campus to drive improvement.

Read the report and action plan at www.hiqa.ie.