Major improvements in standards at special care unit in Limerick
TUSLA - the Child and Family Agency - has welcomed the publication of a new report which shows there has been significant improvements in standards across all areas of the facility.
Coovagh House, which is located at Mulgrave Street in the city, provides young person-centred care to young people who are detained under the terms of a High Court Special Care Order.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published an inspection report which states it was fully compliant in all 11 standards when it was visited earlier this year.
According to the report, the unannounced inspection, which took place over two days in March, was designed to review the outstanding works which have been carried out in the wake of a damning report which was published last year.
In the report, published this Monday, HIQA states the accommodation and premises had improved since the previous inspection in October 2022.
"The provider had completed a number of actions to address outstanding repairs and improve the quality of the building. On a walk around of the premises, inspectors saw that previous damage to the property had been repaired," states the report.
There were two children at Coovagh House when the inspection was carried out and HIQA has noted that Tusla intends to increase capacity to four in the near future.
According to the report, the sports and leisure facilities for children at Coovagh House, including a gym, sensory room and lounge area, were found to be of good standard and were regularly used and valued.
Feedback from the children, a family member, and professionals involved in the care of the children, was positive and they told inspectors that children were kept safe in the unit, and that staff were supportive and met the children’s needs.
Inspectors also found the quality and safety of the care provided remained at a good standard. Children were well-cared for, and their welfare and safety was promoted and protected.
Noting the contents of the report published this Monday, Mark Yalloway, Interim National Director, Children's Residential Services, Tusla said: "We are pleased with the findings of this report, which demonstrate our commitment, and that of our staff, to the continuous improvement of this service. The provision of special care can often be challenging and complex, however we continue to strive to provide a safe and caring environment for the children in our care."
He added: “Securing appropriate onward placements for children in the unit remains a priority for Tusla, and we are in the process of opening of additional step-down facilities this year to better support timely discharge from Special Care."