Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 27 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 27 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 20 centres operated by a number of providers including: Health Service Executive (HSE); Lotus Care Limited; Muiríosa Foundation; Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Orchard Community Care Limited; Praxis Care and Resilience Healthcare Limited.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a HSE-operated centre in Cavan, a resident had been supported to join a local gym where they availed of the services of a personal trainer and engaged in a programme of exercise that they enjoyed. Additionally, the resident was being supported to take part in a community-based 5 kilometre park run and to explore the opportunity to take part in a yoga class. 
• At a centre operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited in Mayo, one resident spoke about a certified training course that they completed recently, for which they had a graduation ceremony. They spoke about volunteer work that they were currently doing, which may lead to further training or job opportunities. Other residents in the centre were also supported to seek out and attend education and training courses.
• At a centre operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited, there were arts and crafts supplies, board games, indoor and outdoor sporting equipment, gaming consoles and tablet computers available for residents. They could take part in activities such as cooking and baking if they wished to, and staff spoke about how much one of the residents enjoyed this.

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

Poor governance was identified at four centres operated by the HSE. The provider had not adequately managed compatibility between residents at one centre.  At the three remaining centres, improvements were needed in risk and safeguarding processes, staffing and residents’ finances.

Poor governance was identified at a centre operated by National Association of Housing for Visually Impaired CLG. Improvements were needed in fire safety and in the management of medications to ensure the protection of residents. 

Residents’ rights and choices required improvement to more appropriately support their living arrangements at a centre operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited.

Finally, better staffing arrangements were needed to meet residents’ needs at a centre operated by MooreHaven Centre (Tipperary) DAC.