HIQA criticises number of agency staff at care centre

MORE than one-third of the staff working at a secure centre for troubled teenagers are agency staff — a practice that has been heavily criticised by the Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA).

Gleann Alainn, which is located on the grounds of an old psychiatric hospital just outside Cork city, caters for young people with serious behaviour issues. They are placed there on foot of a High Court order.

According to figures from the HSE, eight of the 28 people working at the facility are agency staff.