Overview | SSI Background | Inspection Reports | Information for Children & Parents | Children's Standards | Social Care Guidance | Residential Care Services for older people | Information for nursing home providers | Registered Centres for Older People

Social Services Inspectorate

Older man sitting down looking at a photo with a woman looking at the photo over his shoulder

Inspections of nursing homes

Inspection reports for residential centres for older people

From 1 July 2009, the Health Information and Quality Authority assumed legal responsibility for the registration and inspection of residential care services for older people in the public, private and voluntary sectors in Ireland.

We inspect against legislation and our national quality standards. The purpose of inspection is to gather evidence on which to make judgements on the fitness of the provider to deliver a safe and quality service and to report on our findings. We must:

  • ensure that nursing homes are complying with the requirements and conditions of their registration
  • ensure that nursing homes have systems in place to safeguard the welfare of service users
  • provide information and evidence of both good and poor practice.

Following an inspection, an inspection report is compiled from a wide range of evidence including observation, interviewing residents, relatives and staff and reviewing records. An overall assessment on the safety and quality of care provided to residents is given.


Inspections of residential services for children

We inspect children’s residential centres, special care units run by the Health Service Executive (HSE) as well as children's detention schools and foster care services run by the HSE and private organisations.

Services for children in care are inspected against the relevant legislation (Child Care Act 1991) and standards. Following each inspection, inspectors issue a report containing their findings together with recommendations as to how best practice in the centres can be achieved. The report recommendations are sent to the HSE local health manager for implementation. SSI inspectors follow up on inspection recommendations either by review of documentation, interview and/or site visits to judge whether or not inspection recommendations have been implemented. The findings of follow-up inspections are published alongside the original inspection report.


Inspection Reports: Residential Services for Children
Reports are identified by type of centre, Inspection number and HSE Community Care Area.


Thematic Reports (reports that examine specific themes, such as management)