The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published an inspection report on a children’s residential centre operated by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) in the Mid-West region.

HIQA conducted this unannounced inspection over two days in January 2025. The inspection primarily focused on the leadership and management of the service and, the care and support children received. Additionally, it focused on how children’s rights were promoted and realised. Of the 13 standards assessed, nine were found to be compliant and four were substantially compliant. 

Leadership and governance within the service focused on upholding the rights of the child and ensuring good quality, safe care for children. However, the oversight of mandatory training required improvement to ensure that all staff completed and updated their mandatory training. Not all staff had updated their fire safety, Children First and medication management training in a timely fashion.

Children were treated with dignity and respect and their rights were promoted. They received care which met their needs and supported their development towards independent living. Children spoke positively about their relationships with staff and the care they received, with one child saying “staff would do absolutely everything they can for me”. They also expressed sadness at multiple staff changes which had occurred in the centre in the year prior to the inspection. Staff and management had a keen awareness of the impact of staff changes on children and worked to provide the children with support and stability. At the time of the inspection, the service had filled all vacant positions. The provider has submitted a compliance plan to address the issues identified. 

Notes:

• HIQA is authorised by the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality under Section 69 of the Child Care Act, 1991, as amended by Section 26 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011, to inspect children’s residential care services provided by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla). HIQA monitors Tusla’s performance against the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres, 2018 and advises the Minister and Tusla.