The Health Information and Quality Authority has today published the National Quality Standards: Residential Services for People with Disabilities in Ireland. The National Quality Standards outline what is expected of a provider of services and what a person with a disability, his or her family, and the public can expect to receive from residential care services. 

Speaking at the launch, Dr Marion Witton, Chief Inspector of Social Services at the Health Information and Quality Authority said: “These standards promote a vision for how residential services for people with disabilities should be provided in the future. They embody the principles of enablement and possibility; they focus on what people with disabilities can do, when provided with the right support. Their publication today is a significant milestone for disability services in Ireland.”

The standards are grouped under seven headings which address quality of life, staffing, protection, development and health, rights, the physical environment and governance and management. Taken together, they set out what a good quality service for people with disabilities should be.

The standards have been developed following extensive consultation with representatives of those who use the service, their families and advocates and support groups, together with those who provide and deliver the service. They have been created to promote good, safe practice in all residential services provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE), private organisations and voluntary bodies.

It is important for providers to begin implementing these standards and the Authority will be developing an online self-assessment tool and guidance to support providers in their implementation.

Given the current fiscal climate, the Authority welcomes the approach being adopted by the HSE, and other providers, in their commitment to the implementation of the standards and looks forward to continuing to work with the Department of Health and Children in the development of the monitoring of these standards in the future.

Dr. Witton said: “This is an important first step towards enabling people with disabilities to live in a safe caring and respectful environment.”

Ends.

National Quality Standards: Residential Services for People with Disabilities

 National Quality Standards: Residential Services for People with Disabilities Chapter one | Chapter two | Chapter three | Chapter four | Chapter five | Chapter six | Chapter seven | Chapter eight | Chapter nine

Public friendly guide to the Standards

MP3 Audio public friendly guide to the Standards

Easy to read version of the Standards

Further Information: 

Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement 01 814 7481 / 086 2447 623 mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to the Editor: 

Q: Why were these standards produced?

A: The standards have three functions: They provide guidance to service providers on how to provide a good quality and safe services They inform service users and their families as to what they can reasonably expect of a residential serviced Once they have been approved by the Minister of Health and Children they will be used in the registration and inspection of residential services for people with disabilities.

Q: How were the standards developed?

A: The Authority developed the standards with the assistance of a standards advisory group made up of those involved in the relevant services: those who use the service and their representatives and advocates, those who provide the service, the professionals who deliver the service and others such as the Department of Health and Children and other relevant bodies. This group assisted the Authority in drawing up a set of standards which were then made available to the public for comment and suggestion. Feedback from this public consultation was considered by the standards advisory group and the standards were amended and then finalised by the Board of the Authority. All standards that are developed by the Authority have to be approved by the Minister for Health and Children.

Q: What do these standards cover?

A: The standards are based on the seven key principles that cover Quality of life, Staffing, Protection, Health and development, Rights, The physical environment, Governance and management. This means:

1.People who live in residential services for people with disabilities should have a good quality of life

2.For people in residential services to enjoy a good quality of life, there should be staff that understand and support them

3.People who live in residential services for people with disabilities should feel safe

4.The rights of people with disabilities who live in residential services should be protected and promoted

5.The services should be person centred

6.The standards should encourage community integration

7.Residential services for people with disabilities should be well run

Q: Who is covered by these standards?

A: The standards cover residential services for people with disabilities. These standards are not intended for day services or services that accommodate children with disabilities.