Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 16 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.

Three reports have been published for centres operated by St Joseph’s Foundation. Inspections in all three centres found evidence of compliance, with services being delivered in line with residents’ assessed needs.

Two reports refer to St Christopher’s Services centres. A registration renewal inspection of one centre found positive practice and good compliance with regulations and standards. An inspection of a second centre found some improvement was required in developing residents' personal goals.

Inspections in five St John of God centres have also been published today. A good level of compliance was found in all five centres. In one centre, all actions from the last inspection had been followed up and good practice was identified and observed. In another centre, some improvement was required to ensure all residents had a comprehensive assessment of their social care needs and supports were in place to meet these needs.

In a centre operated by Saint Patricks Centre (Kilkenny), it was evident that significant and tangible improvements had occurred to residents’ lives since they moved to the centre.

Three reports have been published for centres operated by RehabCare. Two of these centres were found to be compliant with the regulations and standards at the time of inspection. In the other centre, the provider had been issued with a notice of proposal to cancel and refuse the registration of this designated centre in August 2017. This inspection was carried out after the provider submitted a written representation to HIQA detailing the actions they had taken and intended to take to address the failings.

Inspections in two centres run by Stewarts Care Limited found that the provider had failed to provide safe and appropriate services that met residents’ needs. Inspectors found a lack of accountability across all levels of the service to respond to risks and safeguarding concerns.