The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 19 reports on residential services 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 and respite services in Ireland.

Seven centres were found to have a good level of compliance with the requirements of the regulations and standards, including in a centre operated by Carriglea Cáirde Services. However, HIQA found areas of non-compliance in 12 centres.

Three reports have been published for Camphill Communities of Ireland. Due to safeguarding concerns in the organisation as a whole, a number of regulatory meetings were held with the provider in 2016 and a warning letter was issued regarding safeguarding systems and governance structures. While improvements were evident on these inspections, inspectors were not assured that the systems were sufficiently robust to provide consistent safe practice and response to concerns which arose in one centre.

Reports on five centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services found that three centres were, generally, operating in compliance with the regulations and standards. Improvements were required to the management of emergency medicines in one centre. An inspection of another Brothers of Charity Services centre found that governance and management arrangements did not provide sufficient oversight of the quality of care residents received.

Inspections in two Ability West centres found that residents’ needs were met with a good level of compliance. An inspection of a third centre found that the provider was not ensuring all residents could be evacuated from the designated centre in the event of an emergency.

Three reports have been published for Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services. While one centre was predominantly compliant with the regulations and standards, a fire safety risk was identified on inspection. In another centre, inspectors found that the campus-based environment was having a negative impact on the social needs and community inclusion of residents. Inspectors conducted an inspection in a third centre to follow-up on a notification of the transition of one resident to an individualised service.

Two reports on Cheeverstown House Limited centres have been published. While one centre was found to be meeting residents’ needs in line with the standards, the provider was required to make improvements in meeting residents’ social care, medication and safeguarding needs in the second centre.

Inspectors also identified areas of non-compliance in two centre operated by CoAction West Cork CLG and Delta Centre Ltd. Both providers had made progress in meeting the regulations since the previous inspections; however, further improvements were identified as required.