Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 36 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 36 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 17 centres operated by a number of providers including; Nua Healthcare Services Limited, Praxis Care, Resilience Healthcare Limited, St John of God Community Services CLG, Stewarts Care Limited, Sunbeam House Services CLG, Talbot Care Unlimited Company, The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland, The Rehab Group, Trinity Support and Care Services Limited, and Waterford Intellectual Disability Association CLG. 

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Offaly operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited, the inspector observed pleasant and friendly interactions between staff and residents as they made plans for the day ahead. Other residents spoke proudly about their voluntary work in a local charity shop, and their plans to go to a discos and the need to buy a new outfit.
• At a centre in Kilkenny operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited, the provider spoke about their intention to develop a section of the centre’s garden to include swings and soft play areas to better meet the needs of the residents. 
• At a centre in Donegal operated by The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland, residents spoke about activities they enjoyed including a weekly supper club where one resident cooked a meal for all at the centre, and they all sat down and enjoyed it as a community together.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 19 inspections. 

A high level of non-compliance was identified at a centre operated by MMC Children's Services Limited. An urgent action was issued due to the impact of the centre’s premises and equipment on living arrangements. Improvements were also required in areas such as staffing, training, fire safety, and residents’ rights.

Eight reports identifying non-compliance have been published on centres operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. A high level of non-compliance was identified at two centres where improvements were needed in fire safety, measures to protect against infection, premises, residents’ personal plans and notifying incidents to HIQA as required by regulation. Across other centres, non-compliance was identified in areas such as fire safety, staff training, premises, and measures to protect against infection. 

An urgent action was issued to Peamount Healthcare to improve fire safety measures as well as further improvements being needed in areas such as staffing and residents’ activities, while at another centre a review of residents’ contracts was required.

The management of safeguarding incidents and notification to HIQA required improvement at a centre operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG.

Two centres operated by St Michael's House required improvements in different areas such as safeguarding, residents’ needs and premises.

Improvements were required in residents’ personal plans, managing risk and staff training at a centre operated by Muiríosa Foundation.

At a centre operated by Waterford Intellectual Disability Association CLG improvement was required in residents’ finances and medication management. A review of residents’ finances was required at a centre operated by the Rehab Group, while better oversight and safeguarding arrangements were required at a centre operated by Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny).

Finally, improvements in measures to protect against infection were required at a centre operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited.



Read all reports at the link below.