The children’s team inspects and monitors statutory children’s residential centres (CRC), statutory and private foster care services, special care units (SCU), and Oberstown Children Detention Campus. We also inspect child protection and welfare (CPW) services. We do not currently have a legal remit to monitor private children’s residential centres.

This process is carried out through inspections, reviewing notifications and solicited information (information we ask for) and unsolicited information (information which people tell us through our concerns function). We then publish our inspection reports  on our website. Sometimes reports may not be published on our website if they could potentially identify a child.

We have adopted a common approach to inspecting and making judgments.

This common approach is informed by our Assessment and judgment framework and the guidance for the assessment of:

  • Designated centres for special care units
  • Statutory children’s residential centres
  • Child protection and welfare servies
  • Statutory foster care services
  • Non-statutory foster care services
  • Oberstown Children Detention Campus

These documents seek to provide assurance that our work is both transparent and consistent. It is publicly available so everyone can see that we make our decisions in a fair and consistent way.

The Assessment judgment framework supports inspectors in gathering evidence and making judgments. It also gives guidance on the levels of compliance and outlines the compliances descriptors.

During the inspection, the inspector(s) will make observations about:

  • the centre/service,
  • the care provided,
  • how children’s rights are promoted and upheld,
  • and how the centre/service is managed and governed.

The inspector(s) will be happy to speak to the children, family members, representative, or staff member/social worker; and will also understand that some children and relatives may not want to talk with an inspector.

An inspection report is produced after each inspection.

We publish the findings of our inspection reports on our website. Sometimes reports may not be published due to the potential identifiable nature of the children, particularly in a small residential centre. Whether a report is published or not, Tusla and or the service provider will receive a copy of the report, which can be made available to children living in the centre and or their families.

These documents relate to how we operate and what to expect from HIQA staff during an inspection and your dealings with us.

There is an opportunity to provide feedback to our inspectors during each inspection.

We always ask that service providers take this opportunity. In the unlikely event that an issue of concern arises about the conduct of an inspection then these documents may be of assistance: