Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 21 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. 

Today’s publication includes seven reports which are part of HIQA’s programme of focused inspections of adult safeguarding in designated centres for people with disabilities. The programme focuses on assessing the safeguarding measures that are in place in designated centres for people with disabilities, and aims to promote quality improvement across services.
Of these 21 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 16 centres operated by a number of providers including: Carriglea Cáirde Services; Horizons; Resilience Healthcare Limited; S O S Kilkenny CLG; Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny)/trading as Aurora-Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities; St John of God Community Services CLG; The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland; Muiríosa Foundation; Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Praxis Care; St Catherine's Association CLG; and Sunbeam House Services CLG.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• Family members had said that residents had a nice home and that they were happy with the care their relative received at a centre in Westmeath operated by Muiríosa Foundation. In addition, each resident had also been facilitated to have short holidays, including a glamping holiday which they had both enjoyed. They had particularly enjoyed using facilities such as a hot tub on this holiday.
• At a centre in Dublin operated by Praxis Care, residents' families were invited to attend a family forum which was run by the provider in 2024 to provide them with information on topics such as advocacy and to give families an opportunity to provide feedback. Staff had supported residents to create a cook book with all their favourite meals, which was printed professionally. This cook book included pictures of each of the residents in their cooking attire and pictures taken in the centre of each of the meals for specific recipes.
• At a centre in Cork operated by Horizons, the provider sought to strengthen residents’ rights and had employed an advocacy officer to liaise with residents. In addition, the provider was linking with residents’ day services to explore opportunities for the residents to be part of advocacy meetings that take place in these locations.

Non-compliance that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents was identified in five other centres. 

Poor governance at a centre operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited meant that residents’ rights were not always supported. In addition, the use of physical restraints upon residents required review.

At a centre operated by St Aidans Services, poor governance impacted on residents’ healthcare needs. Residents’ support plans required improvement to ensure their individual needs were being met.

Improvements were required in fire safety measures and the premises in order to support residents and ensure their safety at two centres operated by Muiríosa Foundation.

Finally, improvements were required in notification of incidents to HIQA and in supporting residents to transition to new accommodation at a centre operated by Sunbeam House Services CLG.