Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 24 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 24 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 14 centres operated by a number of providers including; COPE Foundation, Dara Residential Services, Dundas Unlimited Company, Enable Ireland Disability Services Limited, GALRO Unlimited Company, Gheel Autism Services Company Limited by Guarantee, and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a centre in Cork operated by the COPE Foundation, there was a close bond between residents and staff, with the inspector observing them dancing and singing together during the inspection. Residents also enjoyed a range of activities which reflected their needs and preferences, and it was evident that they were consulted with and made decisions about the day-to-day running of the centre.
• Residents at a centre in Kildare operated by GALRO Unlimited Company were supported by staff to organise a birthday celebration, which involved attendance at a football match, party food and friends from other designated centres in the area. Residents’ needs were promoted at the centre, with the cultural needs of one resident being supported through meal choices and information in their native language displayed on the kitchen notice board. 
• At a centre operated by Gheel Autism Services CLG in Dublin, residents were proud of their centre, with one resident showing the inspector their apartment, and talking about their interest in music and outdoor activities.  Residents also spoke about the centre’s sensory garden which they found very relaxing to use during COVID-19 restrictions. 

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 10 inspections.

Four inspection reports have been published on centres operated by the HSE within a campus setting in Donegal where high levels of non-compliance were previously identified. Following previous inspections within the campus, the provider had reconfigured the designated centres and inspectors found this had led to improved oversight in the centres and across the campus as a whole. However, further improvements were still required to ensure governance arrangements were effective and ensured residents’ needs were consistently met. Inspectors will continue to monitor these centres as part of the overall programme of monitoring centres in the HSE’s community healthcare organisation 1 (CHO1) region during 2022. 

At three other centres operated by the HSE, non-compliance was identified in different areas such as infection prevention and control, staffing, premises, and written agreements between the provider and residents.

Due to concerns relating to fire safety measures, at a centre operated by Co Wexford Community Workshop (Enniscorthy) CLG, the provider was required to take immediate action to ensure that residents could be safely evacuated from the centre. 

Improved infection control measures were required at three centres. A centre operated by Kerry Parents and Friends Association had not ensured all staff had undertaken required infection control training and a centre-specific infection prevention and control policy was not in place. During an inspection of a centre operated by Enable Ireland Disability Services Limited, staff were observed to be wearing face masks incorrectly. In addition, a centre operated by GALRO Unlimited Company required deep cleaning in order to protect residents from infection.

Finally, a centre operated by Cheeverstown House CLG required improvements in areas such as fire safety, infection control and the premises.

Read all reports at the link below.