The Irish Association of Young People in Care (IAYPIC) and the Health Information and Quality Authority have today published a new report on how young people in the care system in Ireland view the Authority’s inspection process.

Dr Marion Witton, Chief Inspector of Social Services in the Health Information and Quality Authority, said the views of such young people are highly valued by the Authority and stressed that it is vital that inspectors always speak with children during inspections.

“This is particularly important given the abuses of children in institutional care in Ireland in the past, and the findings of the Report of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (the Ryan Report) which recommended that inspectors should talk and listen to children in care,” said Dr Witton.

The IAYPIC conducted 10 consultation focus groups with young people in various residential care settings to determine their views on, and their experiences of, the inspection process conducted by the Authority.

Twenty-two young people from 10 centres took part in consultation focus groups. Most of these (91%) reported having experienced announced inspections and had been informed formally through a letter from inspectors at the Authority and informally through their peers.

Over two-thirds of the young people (68%) said they understood the reason for inspections while 32% said they did not understand why inspections took place. Living conditions within the centre was the most common reason young people gave for inspections followed by child welfare concerns and staff practices.

Most young people reported that they did not mind having inspectors in their centre and there was no apparent issue amongst young people about the gender of inspectors. The majority of the young people (86%) reported speaking with inspectors individually, while 50% reported to having completed a questionnaire for the inspection.

Dr Witton commented: “The lessons of the past have taught us that inspection authorities must always strive to talk to children in care and listen to what they have to say about the care they are receiving and how they are being protected from potential abuses.”

The IAYPIC report has made 21 recommendations to the Authority about how it conducts its inspections of young people in residential care. The Authority welcomes these recommendations, which will now be closely considered by the Authority with a view to making the inspection process more young-person friendly, and to examine whether these recommendations can be applied to other areas of the Authority’s inspection work.

Further Information: 

For further information please contact:
Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement
01 814 7481 / 086 2447 623
mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to the Editor: 

IAYPIC is an independent association that works throughout the Republic of Ireland, with and for children and young people who are currently living in care or who have had an experience of living in care. This includes those in residential care, foster care, hostel, high support and special care. IAYPIC also works with young people preparing to leave care and in aftercare.