Ms Eva Boyle:

We looked at a number of issues, the first of which was supervision. There is a supervision policy within the Oberstown centre. Supervision is a two-way process. It is about the manager ensuring the worker is doing his or her work, but it is also about having an opportunity for that staff member to have a one-to-one with his or her manager to discuss how he or she is progressing within his or her working environment and the direct work he or she is doing with children. There is a supportive as well as a supervisory element to the process, which was something we highlighted. We felt there was a need for regular supervision and clear records on the agreed outcomes as a result of the process. However, we also saw that a critical incident debriefing process had been introduced on the campus. That was a very positive move which allowed staff some time out after a difficult incident to review and talk about what had worked well and what had not and how they felt about it emotionally. That was a new initiative, which was positive. There are also other staff supports available through the human resources department.