Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 28 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 10 centres operated by a number of providers including; Avista CLG, Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, Dundas Unlimited Company, Embrace Community Services Ltd, Enable Ireland Disability Services Limited, GALRO Unlimited Company, and Health Service Executive (HSE).

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Dublin operated by Avista CLG, residents and their families were involved in activities to support the centre’s decongregation plan. This involved assessing residents’ needs, choices and preferences to determine their future life plans and aid in their transition to their new home in the community. This process was aided by a ‘transforming lives’ lead and staff completing ‘good lives’ training. 
• At a centre in Galway operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, residents’ independence was actively supported by staff. Residents chose their own daily activities and to independently access their local community. Residents also spoke about past activities they enjoyed and plans for the future such as overnight stays away, holidays abroad and in Ireland and trips to music concerts and sporting fixtures. 
• At a centre in Kildare operated by GALRO Unlimited Company, residents’ individual needs and choices were promoted, with information on residents’ rights displayed in their bedrooms. One resident’s needs, based on their ethnic and cultural background, were actively supported by staff through supporting them to buy food and prepare meals of their choice, and staff using phrases from their language of origin.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 18 inspections. 

A high level of non-compliance was identified at a centre operated by Ability West. Improvements were required in fire safety, staffing, training, protection against infection and the overall governance of the centre. Due to a trend of non-compliances that impacted on the lives of residents across a number of centres operated by Ability West, the provider has been required to undertake a six month governance improvement plan and inspectors will be monitoring the effectiveness of that plan in driving improvements in the quality of life of residents. 

Two reports with non-compliance have been published on HSE-operated centres. An urgent action was issued to the provider at one centre to improve fire safety measures, while another centre required improvement in staffing arrangements. 

Six reports with non-compliance have been published on centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG. Improvements were required across these centres in areas such as fire safety, staffing, residents’ personal plans, measures to protect against infection and in notifying incidents to HIQA as required by regulation.

Five reports have been published on centres operated by COPE Foundation. Improvements were required across these centres in areas such as residents’ rights, finances, personal plans, managing complaints, notifying incidents to HIQA, staffing and training. This provider was required to implement a six month governance improvement plan, and while there has been progress in a range of their centres, there continues to be non-compliances in these centres. 

Three non-compliant reports have been published on centres operated by Avista CLG. An urgent action was issued to the provider to address fire evacuation procedures at one centre, while improvements were required at two other centres in areas such as staffing and training, premises, managing risk and residents’ behavioural support plans.

Finally, a centre operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland required improvements in the management of medications, measures to protect against infection and in notifying incidents to HIQA.

Read all reports at the link below.