HSE care homes still operating despite warnings

TWO care homes for children run by the HSE continue to operate despite numerous warnings from independent inspectors that neither is fit for purpose.

The homes, in the south and north-west of the country, were urged to close five years ago and three years ago respectively by the social services inspectorate, now part of the Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA).

The homes are in addition to the HSE’s Special Care Unit (SCU) for troubled children in Ballydowd which the HSE yesterday confirmed will close after a damning report branded it “fundamentally unsuitable”.

It emerged yesterday in the High Court that one part of the SCU was recently damaged when one of the children set fire to a mattress.

The report, by the social services inspectorate arm of HIQA, found:

nThe security of the SCU had been compromised by children accessing the roofs of buildings, scaling walls and fences, and escaping.

nSerious difficulties of trust between management and staff had a negative impact on efforts to manage challenging behaviour.

nInsufficient staff to run the unit consistently and safely.

nAssaults on staff.

nSubstandard accommodation.

The inspector also expressed concern that the location of the SCU, originally built in the grounds of a hospital, was no longer suitable because the units were overlooked by apartments impacting on the privacy and space of the children.

Ballydowd provides secure residential accommodation for up to 12 boys and girls with serious emotional and behavioural difficulties, aged between 11 and 17 years who are detained under a High Court Order.

A statement from IMPACT, which represents staff working in the SCU, said they had been raising many of the issues highlighted in the HIQA report with the HSE since the centre opened in 2000. The union urged that “ahead of any consideration to move to another location” that the report’s other recommendations dealing with the welfare and therapeutic needs of vulnerable children be implemented as a matter of urgency.

A joint statement from Barnardos, the Irish Association of Young People in Care and the ISPCC called for the HSE to publicly announce its plan of action for implementing change in the care of children in Ballydowd, “including action to resolve the very serious management issues”.

A statement from the HSE said a decision had been taken to transfer services out of Ballydowd and that a special project team was working to oversee the transfer.

In relation to the other two homes recommended for closure, the HSE West said it had identified a new facility in Sligo which it hoped to have in use before Christmas. The HSE South has told HIQA it intends to move its care home to rented accommodation.