Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 22 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 22 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in six centres operated by a number of providers including: Avista CLG, Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, Embrace Community Services Ltd, Health Service Executive (HSE), and L'Arche Ireland.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a centre in Limerick operated by Avista CLG, residents were involved in the day-to-day running of their home. For example, the inspectors met residents who had just enjoyed an art class and were discussing what they would like to do for the rest of the evening with staff who were supporting them.  
• At a centre in Meath operated by Embrace Community Services Ltd, training in human rights had encouraged staff to be more interactive and to explain more about what was happening when they were supporting residents with their care needs. Staff said that they were now more focused on ensuring they were providing care according to the residents' wishes.
• Residents expressed happiness living at a HSE-operated centre in Donegal and spoke about goals that they hoped to achieve in the future, one of which was to go on an airplane.

Inspectors identified poor levels of compliance with the regulations and standards in 16 other centres.

A centre operated by COPE Foundation was not resourced by the provider to meet residents’ needs. In addition, improvements were needed in areas including residents’ rights, staffing, managing complaints and risks, and fire safety.



Poor governance was identified in six centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, which impacted on residents’ rights and development. Improvements were required in premises, fire safety, and managing risks.



Inspectors identified instances of poor governance at three centres operated by Ability West. The use of restrictive practices adversely affected residents. In addition to this, improvements were needed in areas such as the management of fire safety and risks.



At a centre operated by MooreHaven Centre (Tipperary) Designated Activity Company, insufficient staffing and poor safeguarding practices impacted on residents.

Residents at a centre operated by North West Parents and Friends Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability were found to have been affected by poor safeguarding practices and inadequate management of restrictive practices.



At two centres operated by Avista CLG, improvements were needed to meet residents’ safety needs due to issues in areas including fire safety, staffing and premises.

The premises of a HSE-operated centre was found not be providing a homely environment for residents.



Finally, significant works to the premises and management of staffing to meet residents’ needs were both highlighted at a centre operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland.