Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2005
147 Mr. Boyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she plans to act on the findings of the recent report by the Special Residential Services Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17134/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume the Deputy is referring to the report of the research commissioned by the Special Residential Services Board on the impact of placement in special care unit settings on the well-being of young people and their families. The research was conducted between 2001 and 2003 in two special care units, Ballydowd in Dublin and Gleann Alainn in Cork. The operation of these units is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004.
Special care is a relatively new development in the Irish child care system. Special care units provide a secure environment for a small number of non-offending young people in need of special care or protection. Placement in special care requires a court order of detention. While the core qualitative sample in the study is small, the research is useful. The report indicates that the approach in special care-focused therapy, purposeful care and high quality education facilities and programmes is having a positive impact on children.
The Special Residential Services Board is also cognisant that the research covers the period 2001-2003 and that the child care services including special care services have developed significantly since then. It is the HSE's intention to centralise the management of special care. This will address issues such as consistency of approach and continuity of care which are identified by the report. The issues which are key to the successful provision of special care include training of staff and staff mix in terms of gender, age and experience; professional understanding on the part of staff on the presenting behaviour of the child and how to address that behaviour; the quality of care plans and the continuity of service provision in terms of through-care and after-care; an atmosphere of respect and involvement that relates to the child and his-her family, and good quality leadership and management of the unit and collaborative working with the broader services and disciplines.
