Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Dec 2002

Vol. 558 No. 6

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

142 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Ballydowd special care unit is based upon any particular care model in another State or another centre; the reasons for choosing this model; the person who chose it; if he has satisfied himself that this model is appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25333/02]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

The South Western Area Health Board has operational responsibility for the Ballydowd special care unit. I have been informed by the area health board that this unit is a purpose built secure residential child care facility which opened in autumn 2000 to cater for the needs of young people aged between 11 and 17 years with emotional and behavioural problems. In designing the building models of best practice were examined. Currently, young people in Ballydowd are detained by order of the High Court.

The area health board points out that Ballydowd is for non-offending young people and is not a prison or detention centre. The centre operates on a therapeutic model of care and the building was designed in a way to meet the young people's needs through this model of care. The therapeutic model of care used in Ballydowd is based on experience in other countries of appropriate models of care for units such as Ballydowd. In particular, there was close consultation on the model of good practice developed at St. Mary's Kenure in Glasgow, a 36 bed child care facility with 30 secure beds and a step-down facility with six beds.

The model of care used in Ballydowd is based on a multi-disciplinary assessment leading to access to a continuum of specialist residential units both on campus at Ballydowd and off campus. I am informed by the South Western Area Health Board that the model of care used in Ballydowd continues to evolve in consultation with the social services inspectorate, the special residential services board and experts in other countries and is informed by the experience of the Ballydowd management team and staff in caring for the young people there.

As Ballydowd was the first facility of its kind in the country, the South Western Area Health Board has learned lessons from working with the young people in this new environment and this continues to inform the model of care in the centre. Extensive staff training has been undertaken at Ballydowd to implement this model of care. Earlier this year the South Western Area Health Board developed a plan around the restructuring and refurbishing of the centre on foot of experience gained in working with the young people. The modifications to the building are well advanced and the board believes they will deal with the issues which have arisen. The board has also made good progress on recruitment with 12 new staff recently employed and in training and it is in the process of offering contracts to 24 other successful applicants. The South Western Area Health Board has indicated the unit will be admitting an additional five young people in the coming weeks in addition to the five currently placed there.