Report shows worrying findings on children's home

The Irish Social Services Inspectorate Report into the controversial Newtown House has found that the centre had failed to meet the standards required for residential care institutions.

A routine report into the residential care centre for children in Newtownmountkennedy, Co Wicklow, was hastily brought forward following concerns raised by the Minister for Children, Mary Hanafin, following alleged reports of misconduct by certain members of staff at the centre.

This report is a damning indictment of the management system applied at the Newtown House Centre.

It found that the standards at Newtown House failed to meet the required level for such a centre.

The report states that there were too many cases where physical restraint was used on children in care.

In some cases, children were injured during the application of restraint. In one case, a young person's leg was broken.

There were also differences of opinion amongst staff on how best to manage the behaviour of detained young people.

Concern was also expressed about the number of times young people were locked in their rooms.

The report calls for better training of staff, including the recruitment of personnel with appropriate childcare qualifications.