Risk management among issues highlighted at Cork IPAS centre

Issues relating to risk management, safe recruitment practices and record keeping have been found in a Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspection report of a Cork International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) centre.

Millstreet Accommodation Service, which caters for families and single people, has 288 people living in it, and the inspectors found “the majority of them reported they felt safe and happy living in the centre”.

However, there were issues with recruitment practices, with an urgent compliance plan issued to the service provider in relation to the requirement for Garda vetting and international police checks for some staff members.

“There was a significant gap in the training requirements as outlined in the national standards”, the inspectors wrote, saying that though staff had received child protection training, none had received training in the safeguarding and protection of vulnerable adults.”

Thus, “there were inadequate measures in place to protect vulnerable adult residents from the risks of abuse and harm in line with relevant legislation and guidance.”

On top of this, “some residents with whom the inspectors spoke said they did not know how or with whom to raise a safeguarding concern.”

Through discussion with staff and speaking with residents, the inspectors found that the general welfare of residents was well promoted and concerns raised by residents were effectively dealt with, but noted the lack of procedures in place for residents to give their feedback on their experiences.

Mould

It was noted that the centre was generally clean, but some areas required fresh paint, and a bathroom in one of the buildings had mould on the ceiling.

Several “defective” windows were identified, some of which did not close properly and some window stays were broken, which presented risks particularly for young children.

A small number of families that had increased in numbers resided in family units which were no longer suitable to the size of their family, the report said, and that some residents “expressed dissatisfaction with the size of the family units” they were in.

One mother complained that they could not use the bathroom facilities on the next floor to their bedroom as they would have had to leave their baby unattended, with the inspectors noting that her issue had been addressed temporarily “but a review was required to ensure that the family unit was protected”.

The centre noted that as of March 25, all Garda vetting was up to date, and that they are developing a residents consultation strategy that will use a blended approach to consult, seek the views of and provide information to residents.

HIQA assumed the function of monitoring and inspecting permanent IPAS centres, formerly known as direct provision centres, against national standards on January 9.

They noted that this was “within the context of an accommodation system which is recognised by the Government as not fit for purpose, delayed reform, increased risk in services from overcrowding and a national housing crisis which limits residents’ ability to move out of accommodation centres.”