One of the State’s specialised facilities used to care for highly vulnerable teenagers was “not adequately resourced to ensure effective delivery of care” earlier this year, a Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) inspection has found. Following inspections at the Tusla-operated Crannóg Nua in May, Hiqa found “significant non-compliances” with regulations related to minimum staffing levels at the facility.Crannóg Nua is one of the State’s three so-called special care units, used to care for minors aged between 11 and 17 years whose behaviours poses a risk of harm to their life, health and safety. Minors can only be detained at these units on foot of a High Court order. Tusla, the child and family agency, is required to maintain certain staffing ratios at Crannóg Nua, which is located in north Co Dublin. The Hiqa inspection was initiated when Tusla informed the authority that it intended to increase capacity at the unit from five to six young people, despite failing to increase staffing numbers to the requisite level. Hiqa’s inspection found Tusla had not ensured there were “adequate numbers of suitably qualified and experienced staff to safely and effectively care for six young people on an ongoing basis”. There were five minors detained at the unit on the date of the Hiqa inspection. These residents received a good quality of care, the report noted, and they spoke positively of their experience at the unit.However, this care was “heavily dependent” on agency staff and staff working overtime, inspectors said. A sixth resident was due to be admitted to the unit in the week following the inspection, the report said. The inspectors also noted that staff lacked confidence in Tusla processes for reporting and addressing concerns, which had affected staff morale.[ Three children were failed so badly, a judge found Tusla in contempt of courtOpens in new window ]Workers at the unit expressed concerns relating to staff safety before the introduction of a sixth resident. They specifically spoke of the “ongoing consideration” of the introduction of security personnel “to ensure staff safety while they cared for young people”.The Irish Times previously reported that Tusla subsequently hired security guards for special care workers due to the low staffing levels at the unit. Staff told inspectors that, in their view, their reported concerns did not inform decisions on admissions to Crannóg Nua. From material reviewed by inspectors, it was evident that risks to children in the community who required a special care placement were the “key factor” informing admissions to the unit.The report noted that while Tusla provided assurances to address “immediate risks” identified, “further action is required to ensure ongoing safe and effective care of young people”. The Irish Times reported last week that workers at Crannóg Nua wrote a series of letters to Minister for Children Norma Foley in May, asking the Fianna Fáil TD to “intervene” as they believed they were “approaching crisis point” and were concerned for the “safety” of those in their care. “Staff morale is at its lowest level in recent years, with many colleagues reporting significantly increased stress levels, fatigue, and growing concerns regarding both staff and young person safety,” the letter read.