High support units offer a residential service to children and young people who are in need of specialised targeted intervention: they are ‘open’ in that the young person is not detained. High Support differs from ordinary residential care in that the units offer higher staff ratios, on-site education as well as specialised input such as psychology services.
High support units aim to assist young people in developing internal controls of behaviour, to enhance self-esteem, facilitate personal abilities and strengths, and to build a capacity for constructive choice, resilience and responsibility. There are high supports units that are managed locally and two high support units that are managed nationally.
The HSE has advised me that they have in place protocols, where young people who are placed in high support units engage in anti-social or risk taking behaviour, that is known to the staff.
All significant events are notified to the allocated social worker, the HSE monitor for high support, the senior management team and any other person with a bona fide interest in the young person. There is a register of all Significant Events maintained at the HSE’s national office for High Support and Special Care.
If it is known that a young person was involved in more serious activities such as criminal damage, again this would be notified through the significant event protocol and the Gardaí would also be informed.
Where there are child protection concerns, these are notified via the Child Protection Notification System to the allocated social worker, the HSE nominated child protection officer, the HSE monitor for high support, the senior management team and any other person with a bona fide interest in the young person. The allocated social worker is responsible for investigating the child protection concerns and informing the high support unit of the outcome.
