Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 25 inspection reports on designated centres for people with disabilities. 

Inspection reports have been published on centres operated by: Ability West; Avista CLG; Brindley Healthcare Services Limited; Cheeverstown House CLG; Communicare Agency Ltd; Corlann; Dara Residential Services; Dundas Unlimited Company; GALRO Unlimited Company; Gheel Autism Services CLG; and Kerry Parents and Friends Association.

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

• At a centre in Kildare operated by GALRO Unlimited Company, one resident spoke about going to the gym and to work, doing the food shopping, visiting their family every week and about their holiday plans with family during the summer. Another resident spoke about how much they had enjoyed an Easter party and Easter egg hunt they had held in their home.  Other residents were doing paid work experience and volunteering locally.
• Residents were supported to engage in volunteering, education and employment opportunities at a centre in Dublin operated by Cheeverstown House CLG. One resident was in part-time employment and was supported by a dedicated job coach, which facilitated their continued participation in the workforce. Another resident was attending a New Directions programme each week, supporting structured day activities and community engagement. In addition, two residents were enrolled in further education programmes while another resident was supported by a job coach to volunteer in a local nursing home.

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:

• In a centre operated by Avista CLG, staff were not aware of residents’ personal needs, which in some cases increased the risks facing residents. The staffing arrangements in place by the provider did not meet residents’ needs or adequately manage safeguarding incidents. In response, the provider undertook to review staffing, residents’ needs and safeguarding arrangements in the centre.
• Six inspections took place in centres operated by Corlann. In one centre, residents were impacted by poor management of safeguarding incidents and the premises needed repairs. In response to the inspector’s findings, an external contractor attended the centre to review repairs to the premises and plan a date for these. In addition, the provider’s compliance plan outlined measures to improve compliance including the planned transition of one resident to a more individualised service. In another centre, the provider had not ensured that the least restrictive practices were in place for residents. However, the inspector noted that plans were in place for the organisation’s human rights committee to review this, following the inspection.
• At a centre operated by Brindley Healthcare Services Limited, improvements were required in fire safety and the evacuation planning of residents. Overall, the inspection found that the provider was striving to ensure that person-centred care was being provided to the residents within their home.
   

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.