Vol. 534 No. 1
97 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of disturbed children in the care of health boards currently held in units run by private security companies; his views on this arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9991/01]
The placement and care of children under the Child Care Act, 1991 is the statutory responsibility of the health boards. I have been informed by all the health boards that there are no children held in units run by private security companies at present and that it is not the policy of health boards to use private security staff for the purpose of providing care for young people.
I assume the Deputy's question refers to Community Children's Centre Limited which is a private company set up to provide child care services, as distinct from security services, and which operates a number of small units in a number of locations in the eastern region. I understand from the health boards that this company has taken over the work of the child care division of Secureways Limited. While Secureways Limited originally provided security services for the former Eastern Health Board, it subsequently established a separate child care division and recruited child care staff specifically for this service. The area health boards have informed me that Garda clearance and references are obtained before staff are employed by Community Children's Centre Limited.
The area health boards in the eastern region have also informed me that currently they have 17 children with Community Children's Centre Limited and that these arrangements are closely monitored by individual social workers. Meetings take place on a regular basis between senior health board staff and management of the Community Children's Centre in relation to these services. This service is availed of as an interim measure as the boards are currently developing a wide range of new and alternative services for children and young people in the region. None of the other health boards outside the eastern region has children placed with the Community Children's Centre.
As the Deputy is aware, residential homes operated by the health boards are subject to inspection by the social services inspectorate, while children's residential centres not operated by health boards are subject to inspection by health boards. The social service inspectorate provides training for, and holds regular meetings with, health board inspectors to ensure the standard of inspection of voluntary children's residential centres is in line with that of the social services inspectorate.
I have been informed by the area health boards in the eastern region that the homes run by the predecessor of the Community Children's Centre were visited by the former Eastern Health Board's inspectorate shortly after it was established. Visits were made simultaneously to all other non statutory services providing residential care in the eastern region. Each service was given advice and guidance as well as information on the template for inspections. In addition, all services were facilitated simultaneously at a one day seminar-workshop. Last month the regional registration and inspection service for the eastern region inspected one of the Community Children's Centre facilities and the other centres will be inspected as part of the inspection services work programme.
