Stepping Stone Care Ltd, Stepping Stones Residential Care Ltd, and Lois Bridges Ltd are owned by Dabakala Limited. Soon we will explore these other companies run by the same owner/management to investigate if Stepping Stones complies with their due regulations. Sadly, the reports do not confirm what the management writes below.
Stepping Stones aims to provide the highest quality of care for children, adults, and their families in an environment in which they are heard and respected regardless of race, religion, ability, or disability. We believe only then can a safe, trusting, and supported environment be created for all those who engage with our services, creating a space in which each individuals aspirations, beliefs, challenges, and difficulties can be viewed as positives and where goals and dreams can become a reality.
Residents at care home punished with fines
The unannounced inspection of Highwater Lodge, in Wexford, which is operated by Stepping Stones Residential Care Limited, was conducted in response to a notification to Hiqa of serious injury, and to monitor progress towards the agreed actions from a previous inspection, last July. At that time, Hiqa found significant non-compliance with the regulations.
According to the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), the notification that triggered the follow-up inspection related to one resident striking another, causing a head injury. “The inspectors were not satisfied with the information submitted, both in relation to the immediate care of the injured resident and in relation to control measures to ensure the ongoing safety of the resident. Further information was requested, and the document submitted did not address these issues.”
The follow-up inspection found the provider had not safeguarded residents. As previously, the inspectors found that there was frequent aggressive behaviour, which required residents to be moved from their living areas to protect them from injury. Residents were not adequately protected from fire risks.
Care plans outlined how residents had to give their mobile phones to staff when they went to bed, for no apparent reason other than “health and safety”, and when residents did not comply they were punished.
According to the report: “Inspectors found that the use of negative controls was prevalent, involving the removal of personal items, restriction of food items, and fining of residents. The inspectors issued an immediate action in relation to these practices and required that they were discontinued immediately. Furthermore, there was a significant level, and frequency, of aggressive behaviour in the centre that required residents to be moved from their living areas, in order to protect them from injury.”
Among a range of non-compliances, inspectors noted that “guidance for staff, in relation to behaviours which might result in the damage of items, was that the resident involved was to pay for the item, and that the staff on duty were to apply this charge immediately”.
It also said: “Some of the guidance, in relation to the management of behaviours of concern and in relation to ensuring compliance with activities of daily living, included the withholding of snacks and treats.”
Hiqa also asked that this be discontinued immediately.
As for the injury which resulted in Hiqa receiving the notification, “the response to this head injury, at the time, was inappropriate, and medical attention was not sought until the following day. However, there was no guidance available to staff as to the correct procedure in the event of a head injury, or in the management of other emergency healthcare issues”.
The report also read: “Due to the high level of risk in relation to fire safety, the inspectors issued an immediate action.”
While there were improvements in staffing numbers since the previous inspection, staff training was not adequate.
Striking of residents, confiscation of mobile phones, punishment, negative controls, removal of personal items, restriction of food, and fining of residents, staff to charge immediately.
Does this sound like a place that should be offering residential care to children?
Thank you for visiting the Stepping Stones Care web site. If you are not already familiar with our history and the services we provide, we hope you will find the information you need.Stepping Stones Residential Care was established in 2008. Our purpose has evolved over time and we now offer a broad spectrum of services to include specialized care services for young people and adults with disabilities.
Today we are proud to offer Residential care, Community care, Respite care, Aftercare and semi Independent living services.The ability of any company to provide a high quality care service is dependent onthose who deliver the service. We at Stepping Stones are very proud of our staffteam, and the dedication they share in delivering the best care possible to bothclients and families.All staff hold relevant qualifications in their area of expertise and are Garda vetted, but most importantly our staff team are hand picked because of their dedication and passion for the work they do. It has often been commented that Stepping Stones staff go that extra mile for our clients and it is this that sets usapart from other care providers.
If you require any further information, or wish to discuss any aspects of our services in greater detail,
Within our residential care services Stepping Stones Care aims to create an environment, which is welcoming, warm, trusting, and safe for all those who reside with us. Also for their families and siblings who entrust us with their care.
All bedrooms are ensuite and residents are encouraged to personalize their own space, creating a home from home environment for each individual and a safe and emphatic
atmosphere where children or adults with ID will be supported through to their full potential.
Our homes are situated in Dublin and Wexford. Each individual will have a Person Centered Plan which is clearly understood, so if a child or adult has difficulties we will facilitate their learning to provide a plan that is understood, either through technology or
other ways, ensuring that, an individual can contribute to their individual care plan.
Our staff will assist all residents in any way they can to be a contributor in our society.
We support a key worker system and each child or adult will be assigned a staff member
to assist with daily skills and work to enable resident achieve their full potential
Families are paramount and we work closely with ‘The Family Unit’ to experience positiveparenting. Should the family or siblings be experiencing a difficult phase we will work
closely with them to overcome these difficulties.
We welcome families to visit at agreed times with staff, and experience the daily life within our homes.
Our staff teams consist of qualified social care workers and nurses, with many staff having further qualifications in counselling and addictions studies.
