The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 20 reports on residential services 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 and respite services across all disability services in Ireland.

Ten of today’s reports found that, in general, the provider was ensuring good levels of compliance and there was a focus on promoting the quality of life of residents. Inspectors found evidence of staff responding to the support needs of residents and ensuring good levels of compliance in these centres. Centres operated by Sunbeam House, St Joseph’s Foundation, Rehabcare, GALRO Limited and Cumas New Ross were found to be compliant.

An inspection of a centre run by St Patrick’s Centre Kilkenny found a number of significant breaches of regulations. Out of nine outcomes inspected on this occasion, six were found to be at the level of major non-compliance. Serious and immediate fire safety risks had not been addressed and some of the premises were found to be unsanitary and in a poor state of repair.

Reports for centres operated by The Cheshire Foundation found areas of non-compliance in each of the four centres inspected. HIQA undertook a series of inspections of centres operated by Cheshire Foundation Ireland during 2015 and found a high level of non-compliances, in particular in relation to governance and management. While some improvements have been made since then, significant risks to residents’ health and safety were identified in these centres in relation to safeguarding, risk management, medicines management, residents’ rights and governance and management.

Four reports on Ability West centres have also been published. Two reports found that two centres had a high level of compliance with the regulations and standards. However, two additional reports found areas of risk. While the inspector was satisfied that the provider had put systems in place to ensure that the majority of regulations were being met in one centre, improvements were required in safety and risk management. In the other centre, the inspection was triggered as a result of information received by HIQA. Inspectors found that the concerns of the person contacting HIQA were substantiated and improvements were required in relation to meeting the assessed needs of residents..

Four reports on centres run by the COPE Foundation have also been published. Compliance was found in two centres, with evidence that significant measures had been taken to address required actions from the previous inspections. However, residents were not consulted with about issues that affected their lives in one of the centres. In another centre situated on a campus, residents’ social care needs were not met and fire doors were observed to be wedged open and as such, would not be effective in the event of a fire. 

Two St Michael’s House reports have also been published today. Inspectors were satisfied that one centre was meeting the needs of residents and providing safe, quality care. However, four major non-compliances were found in another centre in relation to a lack of activities available for residents, ineffective fire evacuation procedures, no annual review produced, and restrictive practices and behaviour support plans required review.