Young people are "coming and going as they please" from a health board-run children's residential centre in Co Longford, according to inspectors who visited the unit. Eithne Donnellan reports
Their report revealed a high level of unauthorised absences of young people from the home. It said this could include instances of residents leaving the centre in the early hours of the morning and sometimes remaining out all night.
"The level of unauthorised absences reflects the inability of staff to place effective boundaries on the behaviour of the young people and therefore to engage purposefully with them," the report from the Irish Social Services Inspectorate said.
The centre in question is Aisling Children's Residential Centre, which is run by the Midlands Health Board to cater for five young people in short to medium-term care for whom living at home or with foster parents is not an option.
At the time of its inspection last June there were three young people, all male, between the ages of 15 and 17, resident in the centre.
Two of the boys were responsible for most of the unauthorised absences - these are absences from the centre without permission for more than one hour.
When they occur, senior management, the Garda, social workers and parents are informed.
"What is clear is that young people are not running away from the centre, but rather coming and going as they please," the report said.
"It is clear that the staff feel unable to place appropriate limits on the young people's behaviour in relation to unauthorised absences, and at times the centre could be viewed as providing little more than a bed and breakfast service for particular residents."--
The inspectors said this issue "must" be addressed. "Clearly the staff's attempts to place limits on the young people's behaviour has not worked, but equally it would appear that the staff have little expectation that the young people will respond to any form of limit-setting in relation to unauthorised absences.
"A change of thinking is required that attempts to achieve a balance between age-appropriate structure and independence. It involves reviewing present practice in the centre to ensure that at least all efforts are being made to provide a programme of structured activities for the young people.
"It also involves a harnessing of the staff's existing skills so that they have greater confidence and belief in their ability to engage the young people."
The report, however, said the staff were a stable and cohesive team and interacted with the young people in a caring and warm manner.
"Young people's needs are respected in relation to privacy, dignity and individuality.All efforts are made to support educational or training placements and health needs are appropriately responded to. All of the young people have regular contact with family members."
A parent interviewed by the inspectors said she found the atmosphere in the centre to be welcoming and informal and staff always took time to talk to her.
Nonetheless, there were other issues of concern to the inspectors, including the absence of a care plan for one of the boys. They also felt social workers should visit more frequently.
In a statement, the Midlands Health Board said it had established a group to review the findings of the report "with a view to taking appropriate action to address the issues raised". That review was still in progress.
It added: "The Aisling Centre is a children's residential centre - it is not a child detention centre. The board does not have a legal right to forcibly detain children from leaving the centre. The board does, however, operate within the agreed national procedures and guidelines."