Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 21 inspection 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 services for people with disabilities in Ireland. 

Of these 21 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 18 centres, including in centres operated by Inspire Wellbeing; Muiríosa Foundation; Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Praxis Care; RehabCare; Resilience Healthcare Limited; St. Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny); St John of God Community Services; St Michael’s House; The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland and Waterford Intellectual Disability Association Company Limited. At the time of inspection, the provider was ensuring a good standard of support and care that met residents’ needs in these 18 centres. 

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

In a Cheshire Foundation in Ireland centre, the inspector found that staff members had tried to create a positive experience for residents. Some goals, such as a trip to a local race track, had been postponed in light of COVID-19. However, staff assisted a resident to use a virtual reality headset which helped the resident to experience the race track as a creative compromise to attending the event. 
In a Muiríosa Foundation centre, residents’ care plans were found to be comprehensive and accessible. They contained pictures of activities residents enjoyed and important events in residents’ lives, including concerts, meals out, and holidays away. 

In a Saint Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny), efforts were being made to include residents in the running of the centre through regular resident meetings. These meetings took account of residents' particular communication needs, such as using easy-to-read and pictorial guides.
Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on three inspections.

In a Nua Healthcare centre, the inspector found that there was a concerning level of abusive interactions which impacted on the wellbeing of some residents. Staff, residents and incident reports all indicated that the centre was not always a calm, relaxed or safe atmosphere. A number of non-compliances were also identified in areas such as governance and management, complaints, premises, protection against infection and residents' rights.

Inspectors found non-compliance with the regulations and standards in one centre operated by RehabCare, including issues relating to the safeguarding and safety of residents, governance and management, individual assessment and plans and residents’ rights. 

An inspection of a centre operated by St John of God Community Services found that one resident’s care and support needs needed to be reviewed to ensure that the resident’s rights were fully upheld in the centre.

Read all reports at www.hiqa.ie.