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Inspection Report

Auburn

Auburn Children's Residential Services
Midland Health Board

Executive Summary

This section contains a summary of the main findings and conclusions of the inspection of Auburn children's residential centre, Ballymulvey, Ballymahon, Co. Longford. Readers wishing a more detailed account of the points on which conclusions are based should refer to the main sections of the inspection report.

The inspection was conducted by the Social Services Inspectorate under the provisions of Section 69 of the Child Care Act 1991. Fieldwork took place on 8th 9th 10th of February.

The centre, one of six run by the MHB, is one of four centres transferred to the board from the Congregation of the Sisters of Mercy in 1995. It is situated in a purpose built house, in a rural location, on the outskirts of the village of Ballymahon.

During 1999 the board established a review group of its children's residential services and a report is due shortly. Some recommendations from this group have already been agreed and are in the board's service plan for 2000.

The board has a statement of purpose and function for its children's residential services, although there is no specific statement for Auburn. The centre offers short to medium term care for six young people of both sexes. At the time of the inspection there were five girls and one boy, aged between eight and nineteen years living in Auburn. Staffing levels have been high over the past year in order to provide an intensive level of support and supervision. Due to the relatively small number of permanent staff, most of the staff team have been temporary or relief staff.

The majority of the young people in the centre are there less than one year and have come from a foster home breakdown. All of the young people had been assessed as in need of children's residential services and were on a waiting list, but were admitted to the centre in an emergency situation.

Present management arrangements are one manager and deputy manager for six centres. This is not adequate and does not provide staff or young people with the level of support, supervision and monitoring required. A new post of unit leader is proposed and is expected to be in place in the coming months. Provision has also been made, within the board's service plan for 2000, to increase the level of staffing to nine permanent posts in addition to the unit leader. This should decrease the current unsatisfactory situation of 24 different staff members working in the centre, in addition to the 10 regular staff, since September 98.

Auburn is a pleasant, homely building. It is decorated to a good standard and each young person has his or her own room. There are adequate rooms to ensure privacy for family visits. There is excellent primary care provided in the centre. The rural location of the centre has advantages and disadvantages for the young people, depending on their age and interests. Young people are encouraged and facilitated in pursuing hobbies and friendships outside the centre.

The board has developed a number of helpful policies and procedures in relation to children's residential care. These are some gaps, specifically the absence of a specific written complaints procedure available to young people, families, social workers and other professionals with an interest in the centre. The board should also develop other written information regarding the centre and associated services for parents and young people.

The requirement that the board have a care plan in place before a young person is admitted to a residential care centre is not always met. However, the board meets all requirements to have a care plan in place once a young person is placed in residential care; to hold regular reviews and to ensure a young person has regular visits from his or her social worker. Young people are invited to attend their review meetings, and in the main they do. Parents are seldom invited to review meetings, although their views are sought by the social worker.

Relationships between young people and residential care staff are generally good. Young people reported feeling supported by staff, and both young people and families said they felt respected by staff members. Parents said they would like more information about their children, and would like to be more involved in decisions regarding their children.

Five of the young people attend appropriate educational or training centres. Young people are supported in every way in their educational and training endeavours. One young person had been excluded from school. Staff members ensure this young person's education was attended to whilst the Department of Education seeks another placement.

There is no aftercare service provided by the board and this should be remedied as a matter of priority.

The individual histories of the young people indicate they have experienced much disruption in their lives over the past few years. Some of them show difficult and demanding behaviour and there have been a number of assaults on staff members. Additionally, two of the young people have absconded from the centre on numerous occasions. Staff members have received training that has assisted in the prevention and management of assaults from young people; however, absconding remains a worrying feature for a minority of young people in the centre and needs urgent attention.

The care provided by the mangers and staff members for the young people in Auburn is acceptable; there are areas that need to be addressed by the board. These include

  • The need for a smaller number of appropriately trained, permanent staff members with a full time unit leader
  • The inclusion of parents and significant foster carers in the ongoing lives of the young people
  • Attention to the emotional and psychological needs of young people within the centre
  • The development of written materials about the service and the centre for young people, parents and professionals
  • A comprehensive complaints procedure
  • The young people need to be made aware of their rights to access of information held about them
  • The board should develop an after care service
  • The board should appoint an authorised person to carry out regular inspections of the centre as required by Article 17 of the Child Car Regulations, 1995