Garda investigates disability worker over CCTV footage

One member of staff at a Co Cork disability home is under Garda investigation and four more are facing disciplinary proceedings arising from a review of internal CCTV footage in the home.

Another 13 staff have been ordered to undergo further training following the review of four months of footage from the HSE-run St Raphael’s Centre near Youghal.

The issue is separate from a previous incident that took place in another part of St Raphael’s in February and which is the subject of an unrelated Garda inquiry into alleged assault.

In the latest incidents, a HSE audit brought to light two incidents caught on CCTV, one in March and another in June. Twelve staff were involved in the first incident, while 11 were involved in the second.

Measures

The incidents originated in challenging behaviour by residents, but the investigations centred on the measures used by staff to deal with this issue - which included pushing and forcible detention - and whether staff followed the care plans for individual residents.

The Health Information and Quality Authority, which monitors disability homes, has raised the problems with the Department of Health in the context of its overall concerns about standards in the sector.

Pat Healy, HSE national director for social care, said the HSE's response showed its new "no tolerance" approach to abuse.