Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 15 reports on designated centres 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 for people with disabilities in Ireland.

Of the 15 reports published today, six centres were found to have a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards, including centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland, Peacehaven Trust and Sunbeam House Services. Non-compliance with the regulations and standards was found in nine centres.

An inspection report of a centre operated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) was one of the reports published today. HIQA had previously issued a notice of proposal to cancel and refuse the registration of this centre because of institutionalised service arrangements that had a significant impact on the rights of residents and a failure to protect their privacy and dignity. On this inspection, inspectors found that while there were some improvements, these were at an early stage of implementation and were not yet improving the quality of service delivered to residents. Inspectors continued to find high levels of non-compliance in the centre. HIQA are currently engaging in escalated regulatory action with the provider.

Following a previous inspection of a Stewarts Care Limited centre, HIQA issued notices of proposal to cancel the registration and refuse the renewal of registration of the centre. At the time, the provider submitted representations to HIQA outlining the actions they were taking to respond to ongoing regulatory non-compliance. Inspectors found that there had been a failure to ensure that those actions were improving the safety and quality of life for residents. HIQA has required the provider to engage in a six-month improvement plan and are monitoring the implementation of that plan and its impact on the safety and quality of life of residents.

Two reports on centres operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland were also published. While a good standard of care was being delivered to meet residents’ changing needs in one centre, the provider had inadequate arrangements in place to ensure residents’ safety in another centre.

Inspections of two centres run by the COPE Foundation found that residents’ health and social care needs were appropriately supported; however, risk and incident management required improvement in one centre.

Reports on three St Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny) centres showed that, overall, this provider has made significant improvements to the governance and oversight systems in place, which has resulted in substantive improvement in the safety and quality of life for residents. However, the presentation, location and layout of two centres was institutional and was not providing residents with a home-like environment.

An inspection of a centre operated by Nua Healthcare found that improvements were required to manage behaviours of concern and review safeguarding measures.

Management systems in place in an Acquired Brain Injury Ireland (Peter Bradley Foundation) centre were not responding to regulatory failings in a timely way. For example, adequate fire prevention equipment and tenancy arrangements were not in place.

Inspectors found that a St John of God Community Services centre was not appropriate to meet the assessed needs of all the residents who were living there.