Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 21 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. 

Of the 21 reports published today, 10 centres were found to have a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards, including centres operated by Peamount Healthcare, Positive Futures: Achieving Dreams. Transforming Lives, Redwood Extended Care Facility, and St Christopher’s Services.

Reports on three centres operated by Stewarts Care Limited have been published. In all three centres, inspectors found ineffective governance and management systems to ensure that the care provided to residents was safe. Notices of proposal to cancel and refuse the registration of two of these centres had previously been issued, and the provider had submitted representations to HIQA outlining the actions they were taking to respond to ongoing regulatory non-compliance. Despite this, inspections found that the provider had continued to fail to provide a safe and reliable service which adequately met residents’ needs and protected them from the risk of abuse. 

Following poor findings on a series of inspections, HIQA has now required Stewart’s Care Limited to submit a governance improvement plan in relation to all of their centres and will be closely monitoring the implementation of that plan to verify whether it results in improvements to the safety and quality of life of residents. The outcome of this monitoring will inform a final decision on the registration of the centres.

Four reports have been published on RehabCare centres. Evidence of good compliance with the regulations was found in three centres; however, areas for improvement were identified in one centre. There was an absence of effective oversight of care by the provider in this centre, with actions required from the previous inspection not yet completed. 

Three reports have also been published for St John of God centres. One centre was found to be operating in compliance with the regulations and standards. An inspection was carried out in another centre following the issuing of a notice of proposal to refuse and cancel the registration of that centre. This inspection identified effective governance and management arrangements with a number of improvements having been made to improve residents’ quality of life. While staff had made efforts to deliver a social model of care in another St John of God centre, a lack of resources was impacting on residents’ access to activities of interest. 

Reports have been published for two Sunbeam House centres. In both centres, the provider was failing to provide adequate oversight, support or resources which negatively impacted on the quality of care delivered to residents. 

While one centre operated by the Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (Peter Bradley Foundation) was found to be delivering care in line with the regulations, another centre continued to operate from an unsuitable premises that could not meet residents’ needs.

Inspectors found a good-quality service with high levels of compliance in a centre run by St Michael’s House. However, in another centre, additional staff resources were needed to ensure residents’ healthcare needs are met. 

An inspection of a centre operated by Stepping Stones Residential Care took place following the receipt of concerns relating to safeguarding and the safety of residents in the centre. Inspectors found that ineffective management systems and the lack of oversight of the service was resulting in poor outcomes for residents and increasing their exposure to risk.