The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published an inspection report on a children’s residential centre operated by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) in its Dublin North East region. HIQA conducted an unannounced inspection to monitor the quality of the service and the level of compliance with the National Standards for Children’s Residential Centres in October 2024. The inspection focused on the leadership, governance and management of the service and considered whether children received good quality, child-centred, safe care which met their individual needs. Of the 13 national standards assessed, the service was found to be compliant with six, substantially compliant with six and not compliant with one standard. 

The service was child centred and young people living in the centre received good quality, safe care. The centre operated in line with Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017). Staff were aware of their responsibility to keep young people safe and safeguarding concerns were reported to the social work department as required.

There was effective leadership and management arrangements in place. Lines of accountability were clear and the management structure for the service was clearly defined. However, some governance arrangements in the centre needed to be strengthened as risk was not always appropriately identified or assessed. Improvements were required in monitoring and oversight, including auditing practices by the centre management team. There was a fault identified with the closing mechanism on a fire door and procedures in place to confirm the identity of visitors and agency staff on arrival to the centre were not adequate. Restrictive practices were appropriately managed and reviewed; however, not all young people had a clear understanding of how or when restrictive practices could be used.

The provider has submitted a compliance plan to assist the service to come into compliance in all areas.

Note 

• 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 and advises the Minister and Tusla.