Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 33 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 33 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 25 centres operated by a number of providers including: Embrace Community Services Ltd; COPE Foundation; Health Service Executive (HSE); KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities; Muiríosa Foundation; Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Praxis Care; and Redwood Neurobehavioural Services Unlimited Company.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Sligo operated by the HSE, a film crew had visited residents and made a short film about their life at home and in their community. A resident told the inspector that they were excited as they were going for lunch and then to the film launch event in a local hotel that afternoon.
• At a centre operated by Praxis Care in Monaghan, a staff member said that one of the residents attended a horticultural programme in their day service and very much enjoyed this work. The resident’s apartment was observed to be decorated to their individual style and preference. The resident liked gardening and had their own private garden area at the back of their apartment.
• At a centre in Meath operated by Redwood Neurobehavioural Services Unlimited Company, all staff had received training in human rights and in assisted decision-making, and could discuss the ways in which they supported residents to make their own choices and to have their voices heard. Residents chose their daily routines including the times that they got up in the morning and when they had outings.
   

Non-compliances that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents were identified in eight other centres. 

Poor governance was identified at two centres operated by the HSE. At one centre, the provider had not provided sufficient oversight or resources to meet all residents’ needs and to provide adequate living arrangements. In addition, better management was needed of residents’ finances. 

At a centre operated by Gheel Autism Services CLG, an immediate action was issued to the provider to ensure better fire safety arrangements were in place to protect residents. At a centre operated by Communicare Agency Ltd, improvements were needed in residents’ rights and personal plans. Better staffing arrangements and management of residents’ finances were required at a centre in Kilkenny operated by Aurora-Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities.

Improvements were needed in meeting residents’ rights at a centre operated by Enable Ireland Disability Services Limited. At a centre operated by Autism Initiatives Ireland CLG, better measures were needed to protect residents from the risk of infection.

Finally, the COPE Foundation was required to improve the arrangements in place to ensure residents’ rights were upheld at one centre.