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.

Eleven centres were found to have a good level of compliance with the requirements of the regulations and standards, including centres operated by Three Steps, Western Care Association, St Christopher’s Service Company Limited by Guarantee, St. Hilda’s Services Limited, Stepping Stones Residential Care Limited and The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland.

Four reports were published today for centres operated by Rehabcare. A good standard of practice was found in one centre, however, inspectors identified non-compliance in the other three centres. In one of these centres, improvements were required to ensure that residents were protected from the risk of abuse. In another centre, inspectors identified immediate actions that needed to be taken by the provider in the areas of health and safety and risk management, fire safety management and infection control. In another one of these centres, although there was evidence of good practices, the inspector required the provider to take immediate action to manage risks related to the use of percutaneous endoscopic-guided gastronomy (PEG) feeding.

Two of the reports published today relate to centres operated by St. John of God Community Services. One centre was found to provide a service that, in general, was meeting residents’ needs. An inspection was carried out in another centre, following a receipt of unsolicited information and a notification of a concern. The provider was required to make significant improvements to ensure residents are safeguarded.

Two reports refer to centres operated by St. Michael’s House. Inspectors found a good level of compliance in one centre. However, in the second centre, the provider was required to take action to ensure the quality and safety of care provided was in line with the National Standards and regulations.

Inspectors also identified areas of non-compliance in two reports published today in centres operated by Saint Patricks Centre (Kilkenny) and Sunbeam House. In a report published for a centre operated by Saint Patricks Centre (Kilkenny), inspectors found that the management systems required improvement to ensure the delivery of a safe and quality service. Finally, in a centre operated by Sunbeam House, the provider was required to take actions to address residents’ healthcare plans to ensure residents’ needs were being met.