The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 22 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.

Ten centres were found to have a good level of compliance with the requirements of the regulations and standards, including centres operated by Waterford Intellectual Disability Association, St Catherine’s Association Limited and the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland.

Six reports were published for centres operated by St Michael’s House. A good level of compliance was found in three of these centres. While there was evidence of good practice in the other three centres, improvements were required in positive behaviour support plans and restrictive practices in one of the centres, medication administration practices in the second centre and safeguarding arrangements in the third centre.

Three reports published today refer to St John of God Community Services centres. One of these centres was found to provide a good level of compliance with the regulations. While there had been improvements since the previous inspection in another centre, further improvement was needed to ensure that residents’ needs were appropriately assessed. In the third centre, while some issues remained regarding the suitability of the premises, the provider had addressed or was in the process of addressing the majority of concerns raised by HIQA at the last inspection.

While residents were supported to have a good quality of life in two centres operated by SOS Kilkenny, one of these centres required improvement in relation to the practices relating to the prescribing, storing and administration of some medicines and the other centre required improvement to ensure residents could be evacuated safely in the event of a fire or other emergency.

Two reports refer to centres operated by Sunbeam House Services. While actions were being implemented by the provider that were having a positive impact on residents in one of these centres, further improvements were needed in responding to allegations of abuse. In the other centre, improvements were needed to the medicines management system.

A report for a centre operated by the Cheshire Foundation in Ireland indicated that residents requiring care and management of urinary catheters were not receiving appropriate healthcare at all times. In a centre operated by St Joseph’s Foundation, the provider had not ensured that staff were sufficiently knowledgeable about recognising and responding to the risk of abuse. Finally, in a centre operated by Western Care Association, inspectors found that improvements were needed in relation to the use of residents’ money.