THE OPERATOR OF a number of private care homes for children with disabilities was given permission to open two new homes on the same day that a report detailed a number of breaches of standards at an existing site.

Inspectors at a care home for children with disabilities in April said Irish company Lotus Care Ltd was not compliant with a number of care standards and that development plans for residents were not properly completed.

The firm, who owns and operates a number of centres in the midlands, had previously been told to make improvements to a child’s timetable at a different facility earlier this year, after inspectors found it repeated for months on end – except for one trip to the zoo.

The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), the agency in charge of inspecting and monitoring residential care centres for children, did not explain why it approved two new sites owned by Lotus Care Ltd when asked by The Journal.

An inspection report at Lime Tree Lodge in Co Offaly, published on 18 July, detailed that staff had no received proper training in a number of skills. It also highlighted governance failures in respect of this oversight.

A Lotus Care spokesperson has said it welcomed Hiqa’s review of Lime Tree Lodge and “fully accepts the findings of the inspection report”. The firm noted that the majority of the inspector’s findings were “overwhelmingly positive”.

On the same day the report was uploaded to Hiqa’s website, the authority also published documentation showing that it had approved two new sites operated by Lotus Care, Willow Brook in Co Laois and Cedar Lodge in Offaly.

Willow Brook was approved exactly three months after the unannounced inspection at Lime Tree Lodge and Cedar Lodge was fully registered the day before the review was made public. 

A spokesperson for Hiqa said that providers are obliged to apply to register all new centres with the authority, adding that an operator’s fitness and ability to comply with standards is also examined prior to approval.

Hiqa’s Chief Inspector of Social Services Finbarr Colfer, who has the responsibility to approve new centres, recently told the Oireachtas that meeting and being compliant with care requirements are the basic standards for all providers.

The Ombudsman for Children’s office told The Journal that the state has a “duty” to protect the rights of children with disabilities who are cared for outside their homes, in respect of education, healthcare and participation in society.

“Standards and inspections are a crucial part of the delivery of high-quality care and ensure the continual improvement in service delivery for children,” it said, adding that the state must also “ensure they receive high-quality care”.

Despite being the watchdog of residential care centres, such as nursing homes, Colfer also told the Oireachtas that Hiqa does not have legislative powers to regulate facilities for children.

While HIQA carries out inspections on the facilities, it is unclear which agency regulates them as both the HSE and Tusla have told The Journal they do not.

The unannounced inspection at Lime Tree Lodge, carried out in April, found that the two residents living there at the time were relaxed and happy. They also noted that the staff were aware of their needs, preferences and interests.

It added, however, that staff members were not properly trained in fire safety, medicine administration or manual handling skills. Inspectors noted governance and managing failures in respect of the scheduling of training for staff.

They added that development plans for the two children needed to be improved. Lotus Care said it fully accepts Hiqa’s findings. 

Lotus Care told The Journal that management took “immediate action” and that all staff received the necessary fire safety training within 48 hours of the inspection’s completion.

“Lotus Care is committed to quality improvement and ensuring all in our care receive the opportunity to reach their full potential,” it added.