Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 27 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 27 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 13 centres operated by a number of providers, including; Avista CLG, Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, COPE Foundation, and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

At a centre in Cork operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, residents were able to participate in a range of activities in the local community, such as walks, swimming, attending day services and visiting local coffee shops. Residents were supported by staff in accordance with their assessed needs, and staff were responsive to residents using non-verbal means of communication such as vocalisations and gestures.

At a centre in Sligo operated by the HSE, residents told the inspector that they enjoyed a recent trip to Galway. They also took other trips, such as going to a concert, and enjoyed activities like horse riding, swimming, and going out for coffee. Residents were supported to choose what they wanted to do in the centre, such as deciding what to eat for lunch and preparing a sandwich independently. 

At a centre in Cork operated by COPE Foundation, the family representative of one resident informed the inspector how they enjoyed being reunited with their friends again after a period living in a different centre. The representative described the resident as being less anxious and that they enjoyed engaging in activities, such as lying on a water bed and listening to music of their choice. The residents were familiar with staff and staff were able to understand one resident who made their preferences known by gestures and body movements.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 14 inspections.

Four reports have been published on centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG. Three centres required improved measures to protect residents from infection. Two of the centres needed to strengthen governance and management systems, and another two centres needed to improve their individual assessment and care plan for residents. Non-compliance was also identified across different areas in these centres, such as premises, fire precautions, staffing, risk management procedures, and Registration Regulation. 

Two reports have been published on centres operated by the HSE. In one centre, improvements were required in relation to residents’ rights, positive behavioural support and training and staff development. At, the other centre non-compliance was found in relation to healthcare.

Non-compliance was found in two centres operated by COPE Foundation. In one centre, improvement was required in governance and management as the provider had not conducted the annual review for the centre. Fire precautions needed review to ensure that residents could be evacuated promptly in the event of a fire, and improvements were also required in relation to individual assessment and personal plans. In the other centre, not all uses of restrictive practices had been notified to HIQA, and staffing levels required improvements to ensure they were appropriate to the number of residents.

In a centre run by Avista CLG, the provider did not notify HIQA of the impact that a safeguarding incident had on two residents. Additionally, improvements were needed in relation to medicines and pharmaceutical services.

A centre run by Cheeverstown House CLG had non-compliances relating to premises, fire precautions and notifications to the Chief Inspector. 

In a centre operated by KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities, improvements were needed in fire precautions and governance and management systems.

Non-compliance was identified in a centre run by Ability West in relation to governance and management, risk management procedures, individual assessment and personal plans, and staffing.

Non-compliance with governance and management and staffing was identified in a centre run by Kerry Parents and Friends Association, while a centre operated by Barrow Valley Enterprise for Adult Members with Special Needs CLG required improvement in fire precautions and training and staff development.

Read all the reports at the link below.