The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 29 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.

Inspections in 16 centres found a good level of compliance with the requirements of the regulations and standards. These included centres operated by the following providers: Asperger Syndrome Association of Ireland Ltd, Delta Centre Ltd, Dundas Ltd, G.A.L.R.O. Ltd, Gheel Autism Services Ltd, Peamount Healthcare, Lorrequer House, Praxis Care, Resilience Healthcare Ltd, St Christopher’s Services Ltd, St Aidan’s Day Care Centre Ltd, Sunbeam House Services Ltd and Waterford Intellectual Disability Association Ltd.

Reports for two centres operated by St Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny) Ltd have also been published. For one of these centres, the inspector found significant improvement had occurred in all outcomes since the previous inspection, while, for the other centre, the inspector found compliance had been maintained in most outcomes inspected, with some improvements required in relation to governance and management, staff training and supervision of staff.

Inspectors found a number of breaches of regulations in centres operated by St Joseph’s Foundation. In two of these centres, inspectors raised concerns in relation to governance and the monitoring of the quality and safety of care and supports provided to residents. In the third centre, the provider failed to demonstrate that there were adequate arrangements in place for evacuating residents in the event of a fire.

Two reports published refer to centres operated by Stewarts Care Limited. A good level of compliance was found in one of these centres; however, the management systems in the other centre did not ensure the service provided was consistently appropriate to residents’ needs.

A further two reports are for centres operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland. In one of these centres, the inspector found that an adequate standard of care was provided for the residents but that a robust system of medicines management was not in place. In the other centre, inspectors were not satisfied that the provider had put effective systems in place to ensure that regulations were being met. This resulted in poor experiences and potential risk for residents in some cases.

In a centre operated by St Mary’s Centre (Telford), the inspectors noted that all of the residents stated that they were very happy living in the centre, although most of them stated that they would like more activities at the weekend and in the evening times. In a centre operated by BEAM Housing Association Ltd, the inspector found that the provider had not implemented an effective system to ensure the service provided to residents was effectively monitored. A centre operated by Cheeverstown House Residential Services was found to be non-compliant with the regulations in relation to medication management.  

In the report published for a centre operated by Ability West, the inspector found that the provider failed to adequately respond to a safeguarding issue. In a centre operated by St Margaret’s Centre, allegations of abuse were not appropriately investigated in accordance with policy and national guidance. An inspection in a centre operated by St Michael’s House found that residents’ personal plans were not reviewed annually.

Finally, the inspector found improvements in compliance had occurred since the previous monitoring inspection at a centre operated by Co Wexford Community Workshop. However, further improvements were required in relation to the management of fire safety systems.