The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 21 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.

On inspection of eight centres, a good level of compliance was found with the requirements of the regulations and standards, including centres operated by Three Steps, Prosper Fingal Limited, SOS Kilkenny Company Limited, Nua Healthcare Services and St Michael’s House.

Four reports were published for centres operated by St John of God Community Services. In one of these centres, the inspector found that the quality and safety of care provided was of a good standard. However, inspectors found that the provider was not ensuring residents were safe and their rights protected at all times in the other centres. Two of the reports relate to inspections carried out on one centre. HIQA was so concerned about the impact of poor risk management in that centre and lack of progress on addressing issues of concern by the provider that a notice of proposal to cancel its registration was issued.

Three reports relate to centres operated by the Western Care Association. While a level of compliance was found in all three centres, some improvements were required to ensure residents were protected from harm and their needs were met.  

Two reports were published for centres operated by Saint Patricks Centre (Kilkenny). Both of these reports show that significant improvements have been made since previous inspections. These centres had been in a programme of escalated regulatory action because of previous findings of very poor quality of service for residents.

An inspection of a campus-based centre operated by Peamount Healthcare found that a significant number of actions had not been progressed since the last inspection. Residents were not being supported in a manner appropriate to meeting their assessed needs and governance and management in the centre was no adequate.

One report was published on a centre operated by the Cheshire Foundation in Ireland. Inspectors found that residents were not being provided with a good quality service, staffing arrangements were not sufficient and this had resulted in poor social care for residents with a lack of suitable activities and inconsistent access to the community.     

An inspection in a centre operated by the Peter Bradley Foundation, known as Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, found that although there was evidence of good practice, the provider was required to make significant improvements in fundamental safeguarding and support system for residents.    

One report relates to a centre operated by Sunbeam House. Following the inspection, the provider was required to take action to improve infection control, health and safety and risk management.      

An inspection report published on one centre run by Stewarts Care Limited was carried out in response to an application to register a new centre. Good practise was identified; however, improvements were required in healthcare needs, workforce and documentation to ensure compliance with the regulations and standards.