The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 18 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.

Inspections in 10 centres found a good level of compliance with the requirements of the regulations and standards. These included centres operated by the following providers: St Michael’s House, Western Care Association, St Christopher’s Services Limited, SOS Kilkenny Limited and St Hilda’s Services.

Three reports published today refer to centres operated by the St John of God Community Services Limited. In one of these centres, the inspectors found that the institutional practices observed were seriously impacting on residents’ rights, safety and quality of life. The residents at this centre were subjected to peer-to-peer assaults and witnessed serious incidents of aggressive and challenging behaviour. In another centre operated by this provider, the inspectors found that the residents were in receipt of poor quality services and that the governance and management arrangements in place did not adequately ensure that residents were safe in their home. In the third centre, negative outcomes for residents were found with regard to privacy, dignity, opportunities for social engagement and the provision of personal care.

Reports on four centres operated by the Cheshire Foundation in Ireland were also published. A good level of compliance was found in one of these centres. Two separate reports were published for another centre operated by this provider. In one these reports, the inspectors concluded that there was inadequate clinical governance in the centre that placed residents at risk of a potentially catastrophic outcome; however, the second report for this centre showed that significant progress had been made and there was now a good level of compliance with the regulations. In another centre, while all the residents complimented the staff, the inspectors found that significant improvements were required across a range of areas, including infection control, effective management systems, clarity regarding evacuation in the event of a fire, and opportunities for residents. In a third centre, the inspectors found that significant improvements had been made but that the provider had failed to implement all aspects of the action plan from the previous inspection.

In a centre operated by Peamount Healthcare, inadequate staffing levels were impacting on the provision of safe services for residents. Furthermore, in a centre operated by RehabCare, the inspector found that although this centre provided individualised and person-centred care to the residents, a number of improvements were required, particularly related to fire management and risk management.