Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 20 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.

Eight inspection reports have been published for centres operated by the Muiríosa Foundation. Positive findings were identified in seven of these centres, with residents found to be well cared for and supported in the majority of cases. However, the provider needed to improve the management of risk and document control in one centre.

Inspections in four Nua Healthcare centres found that two centres were operating in compliance with the regulations and standards. The experience of the person in charge of another centre did not meet the requirements of the regulations. An inspection of a fourth Nua Healthcare centre found that while the care and support provided to the residents was of a good standard, the process of how risk was being managed required review.

Reports on three Rehabcare centres have also been published today. A good level of compliance was found in two centres, with satisfactory action plans submitted to addresses issues of concern identified on these inspections. However, an inspection identified that governance arrangements were failing to ensure that residents were safe and their needs were met in a third centre.

Inspections of two new Praxis Care centres were carried out to inform a registration decision. In one centre, some items had not yet been purchased for residents, but the provider assured inspectors these would be completed before residents moved in. In the other centre, improvements were required to the premises, the centre’s statement of purpose and workforce.

An inspection of a centre operated by Kerry Parents and Friends Association found there was a lack of resources to address continued non-compliances identified by the provider, a fire consultant and HIQA over a period of time.

Inspectors were not assured that the systems of governance and management in a centre operated by the Peter Bradley Foundation Limited (Acquired Brain Injury Ireland) were effective in ensuring a safe or appropriate service was delivered to residents.

Staffing levels in a Redwood Neurobehavioural Services Limited centre were inadequate and this was having a negative impact on the quality and safety of care residents received.