The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 19 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.

Thirteen centres were found to have a good level of compliance with the requirements of the regulations and standards, including centres operated by Dundas Limited, G.A.L.R.O. Limited, KARE, Muriósa Foundation, Peacehaven Trust, Praxis Care, Resilience Healthcare Limited, Saint Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny), St Hilda’s Services and Western Care Services. However, HIQA found areas of non-compliance in six centres.

Reports on four centres operated by Nua Healthcare Services have been published today. One of these centres was found to be providing a service that was in compliance with the standards and regulations. In the other three centres, however, inspectors found shortcomings in relation to positive behaviour support, safeguarding and the management of restraint.

Two reports were published for a centre operated by SOS Kilkenny. In the first inspection, the inspector found that improvements were required in fire safety measures at the centre. In a later inspection, the inspector found that progress had been made on the issues raised in the previous inspection.

An inspection in a centre operated by Kerry Parents and Friends Association found deficiencies in the fire safety systems in the two houses that make up the centre.

Furthermore, in a report on a centre operated by the Peter Bradley Foundation, the inspector found that improvements were needed to medicine management arrangements.