A health board residential centre for children has been found by inspectors to employ only temporary staff, some taken on without vetting, and only half of whom are qualified.
The South Western Area Health Board home in Knocklyon, Templeogue, Dublin, was also found to be caring for a five-year-old boy, even though it is meant to cater only for young people between eight and 18.
The Irish Social Services Inspectorate, which inspected the home in December, said this child was misplaced and recommended an alternative placement. The inspectors found that the centre in a rented house did not meet fire safety standards and had not been passed by the health board's fire safety officer.
It is the responsibility of the health authority to get two references and Garda clearance for job applicants. But the inspectors said there were several instances of applicants starting work before these were obtained.
A health board spokesman said the board had, prior to the report, been seeking an alternative building. It hoped to buy a house shortly. A foster family was being sought for the five-year-old.
The rapid expansion of residential and other childcare services in the region meant many of the posts had to be filled on a temporary basis, but the board intended to advertise these this year, the spokesman said. The board was aware of only one case where a member of staff was recruited before vetting. This was immediately rectified.