Child protection concerns unresolved
While inspectors were satisfied the concerns were reported in line with protocol, they were critical of the fact that managers at the home remained unaware of what was happening in relation to three of the concerns, which were outstanding from May 2012.
Another child protection notification, categorised as ongoing since Mar 2013 was of “particular concern” inspectors said, because of the seriousness of the allegations “and the potential for other girls in special care units to be at risk”.
The director of the unit — Gleann Álainn, in the grounds of St Stephen’s Psychiatric Hospital, Glanmire — said he had not been told whether an assessment of the child protection concern had been concluded or an outcome reached. This was despite “repeated requests” to the relevant social work department. The interim national manager of special care units said her office had received verbal assurances from the social work department that there was no child protection concern in relation to this case. However HIQA inspectors recommended that social work departments provide a written outcome of all assessments in a “timely manner” and that a process be established to ensure that serious child protection notifications with the potential for other young people in special care units to be at risk are assessed in line with Children First, the national guidelines for safeguarding children.
In response, the Health Service Executive (HSE) gave undertakings to improve the handling of child protection concerns by September of this year, including that the unit manager will write directly to the social work manager and request that all child protection investigations are completed within a timely manner and that the unit receive a written outcome of all such investigations.
HIQA inspectors, who visited the unit last May, also had some concerns around risk assessment. While a review of records and staff interviews showed that individualised risk assessments and plans to manage those risks were appropriately maintained, some staff were unhappy about risk assessments that resulted in decisions that a single member of staff was often sufficient to accompany a young person outside the unit.
A set of parents were equally unsatisfied with risk assessments that resulted in decisions that they considered put their daughter at risk given her history of self harm. There was no risk register to identify, assess and manage overall risks associated with the service. The HSE said risk assessment training and the development of a robust risk assessment culture will continue to be promoted and that the unit manager will develop a risk register similar to those that exist in other units by this October.
Overall, HIQA found progress since an inspection of Gleann Álainn last year “continues to be made to ensure a safe and positive environment for young people”.
