Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 28 inspection reports on designated centres for people with disabilities. 

Inspection reports have been published on centres operated by: Avista CLG; ChildVision CLG; Cian's Home Care Ltd.; Daffodil Care Services Unlimited; Dundas Unlimited Company; Health Service Executive (HSE); Inspire Wellbeing CLG; and Nua Healthcare Services Limited.

Inspectors found good practice in many of the centres inspected, including:

• At a HSE-operated centre in Donegal, residents told inspectors that they were happy in their home and that staff were kind, listened to them and respected their rights. Residents spoke about some of the things that they liked to do in the centre, such as baking and crafts. They also said they were supported to attend day services, take trips, and take part in community-based activities. Residents spoke about their upcoming plans, including a birthday party and the guests who were invited.
• One resident in a centre in Dublin operated by ChildVision CLG described how their home was fully accessible, and that their bedroom was spacious with an en-suite bathroom. The resident said they liked the staff and enjoyed meeting their link worker to review their goals and plans. They told the inspector that they felt safe, had participated in fire drills, and could raise any potential concerns. They said that they managed their own money and could make decisions about how they spent their time. On the evening of the inspection, they were planning on meeting a friend for dinner and drinks in a nearby pub.
   

Some centres were required to make improvements to enable the best possible outcomes for residents. Providers of these centres submitted compliance plans outlining the changes they will make following the inspection. These included:
 

• Risk management measures were insufficient to protect young residents at a centre operated by Daffodil Care Services Unlimited. The provider’s existing safeguarding measures were not in line with Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017). Residents did provide positive feedback about their home and the range of activities that they enjoyed. 
• At a centre operated by Dundas Unlimited Company, residents’ healthcare needs were not adequately monitored, and the provider did not demonstrate the ability to respond to residents in an emergency. The provider gave immediate assurances to address areas of non-compliance.
• A review of staffing and governance was required at a HSE-operated centre to ensure residents’ needs would be met. An immediate action was issued to the provider to ensure better management of residents’ medications. An urgent action was issued to ensure a review of the centres’ resources. Satisfactory responses were received from the provider to address these issues on the day of and following the inspection.

Editor’s notes:

• 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.