Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 30 inspection reports on designated centres for people with disabilities. HIQA inspects against the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults with Disabilities) Regulations 2013 and the National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities, which apply to residential services for people with disabilities in Ireland. 

Of these 30 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 13 centres operated by a number of providers including; Muiríosa Foundation, Nua Healthcare Services Limited, Resilience Healthcare Limited, Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny), St John of God Community Services CLG, St Michael's House, Stewarts Care Limited, Sunbeam House Services CLG, Talbot Care Unlimited Company, and Walkinstown Association For People With An Intellectual Disability CLG.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a centre in Louth operated by St John of God Community Services CLG, residents appeared to have a good quality of life. The centre’s layout had also been redesigned to provide residents with more space and to enjoy activities such as playing pool, do exercise classes, watch television or listen to music. An extra vehicle was provided to allow residents to have greater choice and enjoy more opportunities in the community. 
• At a centre in Cavan operated by Talbot Care Unlimited Company, regular meetings gave residents greater opportunities to make choices such as on weekly meal and activity planning. Meetings also kept residents updated on changes at the centre, educational opportunities and how to keep themselves safe and make a complaint if they were unhappy.
• At a centre in Dublin operated by Walkinstown Association For People With An Intellectual Disability CLG, residents were supported to make informed choices about their care and support, with residents encouraged to take positive risks to support their independence.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 17 inspections.

Three reports have been published on centre operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG. All three centres required improved measures to protect residents from abuse and ensure a better living environment. Other areas requiring improvement across the centres included fire safety, staffing and infection control. 

Inspectors found non-compliance in four centres operated by Stewarts Care Limited. Urgent action was required in one centre to ensure improved measures to both manage and report incidents. Furthermore, actions were required in areas such as governance and residents’ involvement in the day-to-day running of the centre. In three other centres operated by the same provider, improvements were also required in areas such as fire safety, and the condition of premises.

Non-compliance was identified in two centres operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. In one centre, an urgent action was issued to ensure effective infection control measures were in place. In addition, fire containment arrangements and risk management procedures required further review. At the other centre, residents’ living arrangements impacted on their care and choices. The provider was also required to further review their arrangements for the management of complaints.

Non-compliance was found at a centre operated by the Rehab Group. Improvements were required to minimise safeguarding incidents impacting on residents, and also some incidents had not been notified to HIQA. Residents’ rights such as privacy and access to their finances required improvement, and changes were required to the premises to support residents’ changing needs.

Non-compliance was identified in two centres operated by St. Michael's House. Improvement was required to the premises of one centre to accommodate residents’ needs and right to privacy. In addition, staff were unfamiliar with residents’ communication needs and support plans. At the other centre, improvements were required in the area of medication management.

An urgent action was issued to SOS Kilkenny CLG due to the effectiveness of fire evacuation measures. The same designated centre also required improvements in areas such as managing residents’ finances and governance arrangements to ensure adequate support was available to meet residents’ needs.

Urgent action was required by the Muiríosa Foundation in one centre to improve fire safety arrangements. At another centre, a review of the admissions and transfer policy of residents was needed.

Finally, improvements were required to the premises of a centre operated by Talbot Care Unlimited Company.

Read all reports at the link below.