Ms Eva Boyle:

Single separation in Oberstown refers to a child who may be in his or her bedroom, in a locked room on his or her own and staff speak to him or her about the incident that gave rise to his or her separation. Staff encourage the child to discuss why he or she acted in a particular and offer a solution. Staff may decide to move the child from his or her bedroom to a general purpose room where there may be an activity and, initially, the child would interact with staff. The child may go back to his or her room again, depending on how the interaction went. Staff may decide to move the child again after a period of observation and talking to the child. Staff may decide to allow the child to mix with another child. It would mean there would be another child mixing with the child who has remained in his or her bedroom for single separation. Depending on how that goes, staff may decide to allow the child to return to the group. We have see instances where children, prior to being with their group or allowed to mix with another child, have gone to the yard outside for fresh air before returning to their bedroom.

A protection room is used in more extreme situations. We have seen a reduction in the use of the protection room. The room is specially designed for single separation. It literally would not have a bed but a mattress may be put in for a child.