Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 26 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 28 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 12 centres operated by a number of providers including; Muiríosa Foundation, Nua Healthcare Services Limited, Praxis Care, St Aidan's Day Care Centre CLG, St Catherine's Association CLG, St Michael's House, Stewarts Care Limited, Sunbeam House Services CLG, Talbot Care Unlimited Company, The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland, and Western Care Association.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

At a centre in Kildare operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited, residents enjoyed varied activities such as swimming and horse riding, as well as the centre’s layout being designed to meet their individual needs. For example, some residents had access to their own hot tub, and a soundproofed studio space to play their large collection of vinyl music records.

At a centre in Wicklow operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG, through completed questionnaires, residents expressed their happiness with their home. Residents were also involved in a range of activities such as tending to the centre’s tomato plants, baking and enjoying their local pubs and restaurants. Some residents had also joined the local rugby club and were involved in the local Tidy Towns initiative.

At a respite centre in Wicklow operated by St Catherine's Association CLG, staff promoted an inclusive environment where each of the resident's needs and wishes were taken into account. During the inspection, residents enjoyed a range of activities including visiting a nearby village to pick flowers and buy meal ingredients for a ‘Come Dine with me’ activity later in the evening. 

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 14 inspections.

Two reports have been published on centres operated by St Michael's House. Non-compliance was recorded across both centres in areas such as restrictive practices impacting residents’ rights, inadequacy of measures to protect against infection, storage of medicines, and poor governance and oversight arrangements.

Non-compliance was identified at a centre operated by Praxis Care in areas such as staffing, training, management of incidents, and residents’ rights.

At a centre operated by Peter Bradley Foundation CLG, improvements were required to ensure the centre was suitable for residents and in notifying all incidents to HIQA as required by the regulations.

Non-compliance was identified at a centre operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited. Improvements were required in the storage of medication, staff training, notifying incidents to HIQA, and residents’ rights.

Inspectors found non-compliance in three centres operated by Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny). Improvements were required in different areas across these centres such as maintenance of the premises, staff training, the use of restrictive practices, infection control, and residents’ finances.

Non-compliance was recorded at a centre operated by St Christopher’s Services CLG in the use of restrictive practices, and in notifying all incidents to HIQA as required by the regulations.

At a centre operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG, improvements were required to fire safety arrangements.

Improvements were required in fire safety measures, insufficient staffing and training, and in meeting residents’ healthcare needs at a centre operated by Muiríosa Foundation.

Better measures to protect residents against the risk of infection was required at a centre operated by SOS Kilkenny CLG. At a centre operated by RehabCare, the provider was required to ensure all notifications were made to HIQA within the timeframe required by the regulations.

Finally, improvements were required in risk management and medication arrangements at a centre operated by Talbot Care Unlimited Company.

Read all reports at the link below.