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. 

Of these 24 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 12 centres operated by a number of providers including; Nua Healthcare Services Limited, Praxis Care, Redwood Extended Care Facility Unlimited Company, St John of God Community Services CLG, St Michael's House, Sunbeam House Services CLG and Talbot Care Unlimited Company.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Meath operated by Redwood Extended Care Facility Unlimited Company, staff had all received training in human rights, and spoke about the ways in which they ensured that residents’ choices and rights were listened to and upheld. Positive risk taking was encouraged in the centre, for example, one resident had been supported to go swimming, which had previously been a high risk activity for them, and another had started go-carting.
• At a centre operated by St Michael's House in Dublin, residents said that living in the centre enabled them to be more independent. For example, residents used public transport independently, controlled their own finances, cooked their meals, managed household chores, and administered their own medications.
• At a centre operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG in Wicklow, complete communication assessments for residents had been carried out and plans had been developed to help ensure that residents were being supported to express their wishes and needs. Staff had been provided with activity profiles on residents’ interests to help guide them on the activities that were meaningful to the residents.

Non-compliances that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents were identified in 12 other centres. 

Poor governance was identified at a centre operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited. Safeguarding incidents impacted on residents and improvements were needed in fire safety and management of medications. 

Poor governance was identified at four centres operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited. Across these centres, improvements were needed in fire safety, premises, residents’ rights, personal plans, and management of medications.

Management of risks and residents’ personal plans required improvement at two centres operated by Peter Bradley Foundation CLG.

Poor management of risks and fire safety posed a risk to residents at a centre operated by St Catherine's Association CLG.

Improvements were needed in residents’ personal plans and the premises of a centre operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG. Residents’ development and activities required improvement at a centre operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. 

At a centre operated by Peamount Healthcare, improvements were needed in residents’ contracts and to the premises. 

Finally, poor measures to protect against infection posed a risk to residents at a centre operated by St Michael's House. 

Read all the reports at www.hiqa.ie.