Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 23 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 23 reports published today, 13 centres were found to have a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards, including centres operated by St John of God Community Services, Resilience Healthcare Limited, S.O.S Kilkenny Company Limited by Guarantee, St Aidan’s Day Care Centre Limited and St Joseph’s Foundation.

Five reports have been published on centres operated by Stewarts Care Limited. An inspection of a newly built centre found that the centre was, in general, compliant with the regulations and standards. In another centre, the provider was required to prioritise the completion of identified maintenance issues.  However, major non-compliance was found in the other three centres. The provider had failed to protect residents from harm and known safeguarding risks in all three centres.

Inspections were carried out in four Saint Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny) centres. Compliance was found on inspections to register three new centres in the community. In the fourth centre, based on Saint Patrick’s Centre campus, significant improvements had been made to enhance residents’ access to the community and, in turn, their quality of life. However, further work was required to ensure that long-standing practices were reviewed and only implemented when appropriate to residents’ assessed needs.

While inspectors identified good practice in a centre operated by St Christopher’s Services, an inspection of another centre found that the provider had failed to notify HIQA of, and put suitable arrangements in place to cover, the absence of the person in charge.

Two reports have been published on centres provided by St Michael’s House. In one centre, the provider has failed to complete a number of actions committed to following the last inspection. As a result, a number of non-compliances remained on this inspection. In the other centre, the provider had failed to ensure that appropriate action was taken in response to allegations, disclosures or suspicions of abuse, and that there was a sufficient number of staff available to meet the assessed needs of residents.  

Inspectors found that urgent maintenance was required in a Sunbeam House Services centre and the decor required improvement.

An inspection of a centre operated by the Muiríosa Foundation identified that further improvements were required to uphold residents’ right to privacy and dignity.