Newtown

Newtown House High Support Unit
South Western Area Health Board

---

Background

The function of the Newtown House, which had been intended to be used as a specialised group home for younger children, was changed in 1996 in response to demands made by the High Court for the Board to make available secure provision for a number of children who, because of their needs and behaviour could not safely be maintained in other children's residential centres. Since 1996, orders have been made by the High Court for the detention of eighteen young people in Newtown House. In each instance the Board was required to restrict the liberty of the young person concerned, in their own interests, and to report regularly to the court. In the absence of a purpose built special care centre, Newtown House was adapted to provide a secure residential care service. In effect it was required to provide a service comparable to what would now be expected of a special care unit. The service was, therefore, provided in premises which were not particularly suitable for this purpose. Although approval was given for a higher staff:child ratio than in ordinary children's residential centres, the Board has experienced continuing difficulties in both recruiting and retaining suitable qualified and experienced staff for the complex and demanding work of caring for young people, many of whom did not want to be kept in secure conditions. 

The young people who are deemed to require care in a controlled setting present with complex and varied needs. At times their behaviour can present risks to both themselves and others. In meeting the needs of these young people care staff can be asked to care for young people at a time when the young person is resistant to many efforts and interventions. The lack, until recently, of planned and properly structured secure accommodation for those young people who require special care, has had implications for the young people, their families and the child care staff who have had to care for them in less than appropriate conditions.

As will be seen in the staffing section of this report, there has been a high staff turnover and considerable reliance on temporary staff, including staff from employment agencies. The proportion of staff who hold suitable qualifications recognised by the Department of Health and Children for residential child care is low.

This inspection was carried out at a difficult time for Newtown House management and staff. One of the residents, who was undertaking a work experience programme in the community, as part of her preparation for leaving the centre, had gone missing from her place of employment, without authority and had not been found until her untimely death some weeks later. This had a profound effect on the staff and other children at the centre.

It is important that readers of this report should understand the context in which the centre has developed and it should also be recognised that the Board has since the middle of 2000 been making plans for Newtown House to return to its original purpose. This has been made possible by the opening of Ballydowd special care unit.

At the time of the inspection, however, the purpose of Newtown House was to provide high support in a secure setting for young people whose needs could not be met within mainstream residential care, and the centre was inspected as such.