A detailed investigation into the running of Newtown House in Co Wicklow is to be carried out next month by the Social Services Inspectorate. The high-support unit cared for 15-year-old Kim O'Donovan before she absconded and died from a drugs overdose in August.
Two more children absconded from the centre last Friday, it has emerged, but were returned by gardai that evening. A Garda spokeswoman said there had been an incident at Newtown House at about 5 p.m. on Friday. She said staff had been threatened and two teenagers had escaped but had been returned to the centre.
The investigation is being carried out following a request from Ms Mary Hanafin, Minister of State with responsibility for children.
She had received a complaint from parents of a child who was a resident in the high-support unit.
Mr Victor McElfatrick, acting director of the Social Services Inspectorate, said he believed this was the first such request made since the inspectorate began its work over a year ago.
The Government-established body inspects, on average, one centre every two weeks and in time will have inspected all health-board-run residential centres.
Mr McElfatrick said Newtown House would have been inspected at some stage, but Ms Hanafin's request accelerated the process.
Inspections cover areas such as accommodation, care practice, management arrangements, staff turnover and staff qualifications. They also look at the level of unauthorised absences by children and the reasons for them. Generally, two people spend about three days carrying out an inspection.
The views of children and care staff are sought, and before the inspection begins inspectors meet staff and children to explain the purpose of the inspection. If possible, parents of residents are also interviewed.
Mr McElfatrick said while most residential centres were doing a good job, the Social Services Inspectorate was concerned at the lack of qualifications and training received by some care workers. He also expressed concern at the lack of adequate care plans for children in some circumstances. In some cases, care plans were not drawn up when the child arrived. In other cases, the plans were inadequate.
Health board officials have privately expressed concern at the level of media coverage of Newtown House since Kim O'Donovan's death. They fear publicity is having an adverse and unsettling effect on its young residents.
