Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 24 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. 

Today’s publication includes three reports which are part of HIQA’s programme of thematic inspections of restrictive practices in designated centres for people with disabilities. The programme focuses on assessing physical and environmental restraints as well as other forms of restrictive practices, and aims to promote quality improvement across services. 

Of the 24 inspection reports being published, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 16 centres operated by a number of providers including: Camphill Communities of Ireland; Co Wexford Community Workshop (Enniscorthy) CLG; Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Muiríosa Foundation; North West Parents and Friends Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability; Peamount Healthcare; Peter Bradley Foundation CLG; Praxis Care; Redwood Extended Care Facility Unlimited Company and Resilience Healthcare Limited.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Westmeath operated by Muiríosa Foundation, staff said that human rights training had helped them to be more conscious of how they promote residents’ independence. For example, they encouraged residents to pay for their own goods when shopping which helped to be more independent and supported them to integrate further in their local community.
• At a centre operated by Peamount Healthcare in Dublin, a resident who had recently moved to the centre said that they had made some good friends who had helped them celebrate and enjoy a recent party to celebrate their birthday.
• At a centre in Monaghan operated by Praxis Care, staff were supportive of residents’ interests. One resident had successfully completed a 10-week social farming course and had also  secured a placement working one day a week at a local  farm feeding the animals and helping out with other farming activities.

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

Poor management of restrictive practices, infection prevention and control, fire safety and maintenance of the premises impacted residents at a centre operated by KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

Inspectors identified poor management of medications at three centres operated by St Christopher's Services CLG, which increased risks to residents.  

Better fire safety measures were needed to ensure residents’ safety at a centre operated by St Hilda's Services. 

At a centre operated by Embrace Community Services Ltd, better measures were needed to protect residents from infection. Poor management of residents’ personal possessions was identified at a centre operated by Redwood Extended Care Facility Unlimited Company.

Finally, better management of residents’ contracts of care was needed at a centre operated by SOS Kilkenny CLG.