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 26 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 20 centres operated by a number of providers including: Ability West; Avista CLG; Cheeverstown House CLG; Communicare Agency Ltd; COPE Foundation; Enable Ireland Disability Services Limited; Praxis Care; Stepping Stones Residential Care Limited; and Stewarts Care DAC.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Galway operated by Ability West, one resident spoke at length about their satisfaction with their home, the people they lived with and also the staff who supported them. The resident also spoke about how they were supported to stay in the centre for short periods of time by themselves which increased their independence and meant a lot to them.
• At a centre operated by Avista CLG in Dublin, a small sitting room had been converted into a pleasant sensory space to meet residents’ needs. The room was equipped with LED lighting, calming music and a scent diffuser. Residents were also actively involved in cooking their own meals and buying their own groceries.  
• A centre operated by the COPE Foundation in Cork had developed a new accessible patio area to meet residents’ needs which was nicely decorated with artificial grass, plant pots, colourful furniture, decorations and outdoor lighting. A resident told the inspector that they enjoyed sitting in the new patio area with their family.
   

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

Poor governance was identified at a centre operated by the COPE Foundation, with residents’ welfare and activities being impacted by staffing arrangements and improvements needed to the management of risks. 

At two centres operated by Avista CLG, poor governance impacted on residents due to the need for improvements to residents’ living arrangements and their personal plans.

Poor governance impacted on residents at a centre operated by Ability West. Improvements were needed in staffing arrangements and the management of risk to ensure residents’ safety and needs were met.

Finally, at two centres operated by Cheeverstown House CLG, improvements were needed in the management of staffing, training, and medications for residents.