Inspection reports on Children Detention Schools in Ireland (2011)

18th August 2011

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) carried out detailed follow up inspections of each of the children detention schools in March 2011.

While the inspectors acknowledged that many recommendations had been met or partially met, some unmet recommendations were common to all three detention centres:

• the recommendation to reduce the use of single separation and ensure that practice conforms to standards in every instance was not met.
• the recommendation to develop single separation guidelines by Irish Youth Justice Service (IYJS) in consultation with the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Health Service Executive (HSE) was not met.
• the recommendation for improvement of planning for and support after discharge by IYJS in liaison with the HSE and the probation service was not met.

To access the Children Detention Schools inspection reports, please see below.

Oberstown Girls School 

Oberstown Girls School accepts girls aged between 10 and 18 years, for both remand and on conviction. The stated capacity of the school is 8 girls. The inspection by HIQA took place in March 2011.

HIQA Inspectors found that of the 28 recommendations made in the report, 7 were fully implemented, 13 were partly implemented and 8 were not met. A recommendation specific to Oberstown Girls School is for the board of management and director of OGS to develop policy and procedures for the care of pregnant young women.

Other recommendations include that a campus-wide complaints procedure be developed; that the Director and Board of Management, in consultation with IYJS, ensure regular supervision is provided to staff; and for the establishment of a system for monitoring and evaluating offending behaviour programmes.

Oberstown Boys School  

Oberstown Boys School accommodates male young offenders aged between 10 and 16 years. It has 20 places; 12 for committal and 8 for remand. The inspection by HIQA took place in March 2011.

HIQA Inspectors found that of the 19 recommendations made in the report, 3 were fully implemented, 6 were partly implemented and 10 were not met.

Recommendations include that the IYJS arrange for key personnel to receive training in change management; that the the Board of Management and Director of OBS to carry out an audit of all staff files to identify and remedy any deficiencies in vetting; that the school look at streamlining the system of recording; and that regular supervision is provided to staff.

Trinity House School 

Trinity House School accommodates male young offenders aged between 10 and 16 years. At the time of the inspection it had 17 places; 14 for committal and 3 for remand. There is provision for an additional 3 spaces in a step-down facility, but at the time of the inspection residential care in this facility was not available. The inspection took place in March 2011.

The HIQA Inspectors found that of the 28 recommendations made in the report, 7 were fully implemented, 13 were partly implemented and 8 were not met.

Among the recommendations were for the appointment by the IYJS of a visiting panel; that the Director and Board of Management to carry out an audit of all staff files to identify and remedy any deficiencies in vetting; that the school should revise its internal forms for the notification of significant events; and for the establishement, in consultation with IYJS, of a system for monitoring and evaluating offending behaviour programmes.

Read more: 

• HIQA website
• Children Detention Schools inspection reports 2010
• Oberstown Girls School report (inspected March '11; published Aug '11)
• Oberstown Boys School report (inspected  March '11; published Aug '11)
• Trinity House School report (inspected  March '11; published Aug '11)