Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 13 reports on residential services for people with disabilities. All 13 reports published today relate to centres operated by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

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.

Six reports relate to HSE centres in the northwest of the country. Registration inspections of three centres found major non-compliance in the area of workforce. In all three centres, the provider failed to provide evidence that they had obtained An Garda Síochána (police) vetting for all staff to ensure their suitability for working with residents. In two further centres, residents were not afforded adequate private space in shared bedrooms. An inspection of another centre took place following receipt of unsolicited information. Inspectors found that the centre was not operating in line with its conditions of registration, and there was a continued failing to notify HIQA of safeguarding concerns.

Seven reports relate to HSE centres in other parts of the country. Inspections in four of these centres found a good level of compliance with the requirements of the regulations and standards. In another centre, a number of improvements had been made since the previous inspection, with increased availability of social activities for residents. The HSE is required to continue implementing its action plan to further improve residents’ quality of life in this centre.

One HSE centre, located on a hospital campus, was found to be non-compliant in all 15 outcomes inspected against. Inspectors found evidence of poor quality of life for residents, institutional staff practices, a lack of social care opportunities, and poor safeguarding in this centre which were having a negative impact on residents. Following the inspection, the provider was required to attend a regulatory meeting with HIQA and to present an improvement plan. HIQA will monitor this centre closely to verify whether the provider’s improvement plan is effective in improving the safety and quality of life for residents in this centre.

In a further HSE centre, while the provider has a plan in place to move residents to more suitable community housing of their choosing, the physical environment continued to impact on residents’ care and support.