'Oberstown has helped us a lot': Parents praise care of children at detention facility

Oberstown Children Detention Campus is the country’s sole secure detention facility for juveniles, aged between 10 and 18. File picture: Colin Keegan, Collins Dublin

Parents of juveniles detained for serious crimes at Oberstown Centre have praised the quality of services provided to their children.

In the latest Hiqa inspection report, parents also highlighted the education and safe environment provided at the north Dublin facility.

The Hiqa report said Oberstown was either fully or substantially compliant on six of eight rules inspected on, but did flag non-compliance in relation to proper staffing levels and use of restrictive practices.

Oberstown Children Detention Campus is the country’s sole secure detention facility for juveniles, aged between 10 and 18. The Hiqa report, based on a three-day inspection last June, said there were 38 juveniles (all boys) in the facility, but said it had a maximum capacity of 46.

Inspectors spoke with six parents and two social workers (for those children under care orders) and found they were “generally positive” regarding Oberstown.

“They talked about how well their young people were doing in Oberstown and about how supportive staff were to young people and parents,” the report said.

One parent said: “I was at my wit's end — Oberstown has helped us a lot — they turned my son's life around”.

A second parent said: “Oberstown has given my son a second chance, I couldn’t speak highly enough of the staff, so engaging, always have a minute, even if they are busy, [Young Person] is a much happier, calmer.” 

A third parent said: 

Oberstown has been amazing for him. It has really brought my boy back.

Parents told inspectors about how good the health service was in Oberstown and praised the standard of education there.

One parent said: “[My boy] wasn’t going to school at home, now [he's] finished junior cert.”

Another parent said: “Yes absolutely, his education needs are being met, he is finishing his QQI Level 3 or 4 with a plan to finish his Leaving Cert."

They also said their children were safe in Obsertown and that any incidents were dealt with. In addition, inspectors received 35 completed surveys from young people in the centre and directly met with 28 during their visit.

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“Overall, young people were positive about the care they received," the report said. 

"In the surveys, the vast majority of young people (93%) reported they were given support and information when they first arrived and the majority also reported that staff listen to them. Young people who spoke with inspectors during the inspection spoke highly of staff and the care and support staff provide.” 

Hiqa did highlight concerns about staffing, both recruitment and retention, but detailed efforts by management to fill vacancies. The report said the use of restrictive practices of children by staff “required significant improvement”.