Oberstown Children Detention Campus welcomes the publication of the 2021 HIQA inspection
14 March 2022: Oberstown Children Detention Campus has welcomed the findings of a November 2021 inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) published today.
The inspection found high levels of compliance across a variety of areas following a rigorous four day inspection. Particularly important are the findings relating to the care of young people as well as across health, safeguarding, participation in decision-making and positive behaviour.
The inspection involved HIQA inspectors speaking with young people, staff and management at Oberstown whilst observing practice and daily life on Campus and reviewing documents and records.
The report describes how young people on campus spoke positively about the care they received, their medical treatment and their education on campus.
Notably the report acknowledges the sustained delivery of service during the COVID-19 pandemic and recognised the high standards maintained throughout this time.
This is the first inspection by HIQA under the Oberstown Children’s Rights Policy Framework and it highlights that the campus holds itself to a specialist child-centred and rights-based model of care for young people in detention.
Damien Hernon, Director of Oberstown Children Detention Campus, said: “We warmly welcome the report form HIQA today which recognises the overall quality of the service and our commitment to continuously improve the care we provide to young people. We are particularly proud to have sustained the wellbeing of the organisation – continuing to support the wellbeing of young people and staff notwithanding the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Oberstown we operate a unique personalised care model for young people which takes into account their complex needs and is centred on their care, education, health, offending behaviour and preparation for leaving under our CEHOP model. . We are especially pleased that HIQA found that young people felt involved in this process.”
Professor Ursula Kilkelly, Chair of Oberstown Board of Management said:
“On behalf of the Board of Management, I would like to acknowledge the commitment of the Director and all Oberstown staff who have worked tirelessly to bring about the positive changes documented in the HIQA report. Despite the extraordinary challenges of COVID-19, the Campus has continued to strive for the highest standards in the care we provide to young people, as set out in the Children’s Rights Policy Framework. I am grateful to everyone for the support, continuous dedication and hard work involved in making these standards the lived experience of young people in Oberstown.”
ENDS
For media queries contact:
Danielle Martin at Danielle.martin@drury.ie / 086 776 1592
Caoilinn Putti at Caoilinn.putti@drury.ie / 087 774 1517
Note to Editors:
- The HIQA inspection report is available on this link – www.oberstown.com/HIQA 2021
Oberstown Children Detention Campus provides a safe and secure environment for young people under 18 years who serve detention and remand orders under the Children Act 2001. The objective of Oberstown is to provide care, education, health and work on offending behaviour, so that they can successfully return to their families and communities.
Oberstown helps young people to address their offending behaviour though a programme centred on their care, education and health needs. This programme is CEHOP, a bespoke Oberstown designed and delivered programme.
Upon arrival, each young person is assessed, and an individual care plan is developed by a multi-disciplinary team. This produces a customised journey through care plan for each young person. This is achieved through a unique care model, developed by Oberstown, in which relationship building is key addressing core areas of care, education, health, offending behaviours and preparation for return to family and communities.
