The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published a report outlining what residents of services for people with disabilities told HIQA about their lives, experiences and the inspection process.

To inform the report, HIQA met with a number of forums for residents who live in designated centres for people with disabilities outside of the inspection process to seek their feedback and learn about what is important for residents.

In 2022, HIQA inspectors met with 88 residents in 15 face-to-face resident forums across Ireland to hear about their experiences of living in residential services. In 2023, HIQA sent a survey to a sample group of residents to ask them for their views on the resident forum and how it was communicated with them. The report highlights what residents told inspectors about their rights, HIQA inspections, safeguarding and how information was shared with them. Residents who have lived in respite centres also told inspectors about their experiences in respite care.

Launching the report today, HIQA’s Deputy Chief Inspector of Social Services, Finbarr Colfer, said: “One of the most important sources of information which informs how HIQA does its work is feedback from people with disabilities who live in designated centres. Residents’ rights were a focus for us throughout all of our work in 2023, and we asked them about their rights during the forums. We also asked residents about their experiences of the provision of respite care, HIQA inspections, safeguarding and how information was shared with them.

“Overall, their feedback remind us about the importance of human rights-based approach in services. Residents described their rights to us as ‘to be happy’, ‘being respected’, ‘independence’, or ‘treated equally’. The voice of the resident guides our extensive work in promoting a better health and social care in Ireland. As a regulator, we strive to ensure that all people using services achieve the best possible outcome from the care and support they receive, regardless of their status.” 

Residents also provided feedback to HIQA on how they wanted to get information from the organisation. The report outlines a number of actions HIQA is taking as a result, including a poster which is being sent to each centre.

Mr Colfer continued: “We would like to thank all residents who took part in these forums for their welcome and for sharing their thoughts and opinions with us. By engaging with our inspections and providing direct feedback, they are directly influencing positive changes within Ireland’s social care landscape. HIQA is committed to upholding residents’ rights and respecting the view and preference of people with disabilities. We will continue to meet with residents outside of the inspection process to listen to their views and to learn from what they have to say to us.”

The report is available on www.hiqa.ie.

Ends

Notes to the editor:

• HIQA regulates designated centres for people with disabilities against the Health Act 2007 (as amended), associated regulations and nationally mandated standards. Regulation sets the minimum level of service a person can expect to receive.
• As at 31 December 2023, there were 1,574 designated centres for people with disabilities, providing places for 9,147 residents. 
• In 2023, HIQA carried out 1268 inspections in designated centres for people with disabilities.
• In 2022, HIQA identified 15 forums to meet with across Ireland and held a face-to-face meeting with each forum. This was a departure from 2021 meetings, which were held virtually due to public health restrictions around COVID-19. Residents’ feedback was that they wanted a return to face-to-face meetings.