Inspectors criticise ‘below par’ safety standards at special needs children’s home

AN INSPECTION of a care home for children with special needs found poor staff supervision, no written record of complaints and below par safety standards.

The Irish Social Services Inspectorate, which inspected the residential home in the Dublin South West Community Care Area, was also critical of delays in developing care plans for children (aged 11-16) and of poor budgeting.

Six of the 14 childcare staff had no qualifications. Inspectors noted satellite TV had been disconnected because the bill had not been paid. And staff told inspectors one child had to wait two weeks to get a new school uniform.