Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 20 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 20 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 17 centres, including in centres operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited; S O S Kilkenny Company Limited; Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny); St John of God Community Services; St Joseph's Foundation; St Michael's House; Sunbeam House Services Company; and The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland At the time of inspection, the provider was ensuring a good standard of support and care that met residents’ needs in these 17 centres. 

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• In a St Joseph’s Foundation centre, residents were provided with opportunities to learn new skills, in line with their interests. For example, one resident regularly checked the oil and water in the designated centre’s vehicle with the support of a staff member. 
• The provider had enhanced the quality of life for residents in a Sunbeam House Services centre by providing customised furniture and appliances, along with a small multi-sensory room. A spare room upstairs had also been changed into a multi-sensory space for residents.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on three inspections. 

Inspectors found non-compliance with the regulations and standards in two Resilience Healthcare centres, including issues relating to governance and management and positive behavioural support. For example, in one centre, residents had to stay in their bedrooms for their own safety (with and or without staff accompanying them) and wait for incidences with other residents to de-escalate. In the other centre, improvements were required in how emergencies would be responded to. 

An inspection of a St John of God Community Services centre found issues with a fire evacuation route.

Read all reports at www.hiqa.ie.