Youths in care concerned over inspections

Young people in residential care have said inspectors do not spend enough time with them during their visits, according to a report published today.

Children and young people in care were asked for their views of the Health Information and Quality Authority inspections as part of the report by the Irish Association of Young People in Care and HIQA.

HIQA said the report was a first step in trying to listen to young people and it would closely consider and start to implement recommendations.

The findings were particularly important in light of the recommendation in the Ryan report that inspectors should talk to and listen to children in care , Dr Marion Witton, chief inspector of social service in HIQA said.

The report follows severe criticism of care system in reports earlier this year and the setting up of an investigation of the deaths of at least 188 children in care or known to social services in the past decade.

Spending more time with the inspectors would help to build trust and help the young people to be honest as possible, according to study which made 21 recommendations to HIQA about how it conducts inspections and interviewed 22 young people in residential care across the State.

A quarter of children wanted the inspectors to spend longer with them so they could get to know them and see their everyday normal activities. Some young people suggested the inspectors would stay overnight as part of their inspection.

Children also asked that notes which the inspectors take during interviews would be read back to them so they know that the inspectors understand and the children can clarify what they said.

Some 80 per cent of young people said they did not receive feedback following the inspection, despite the fact that the authority does send a feedback report to care centres. Most young people did no know how to contact an inspector after their visit.

Kieran O’Connor, inspection manager of children’s services with HIQA said spending time with young people was the most important part of the role.

Inspectors already spend the majority of their time with children but they may extend the possibilities of involving children in all aspects of the inspection, he said.

Dr Witton said she would not rule out overnight inspections. There was value in seeing the 24-hour care and what happens in the evening, she said. The organisation also planned to bring young people who had left care on their inspections in future for their views.