Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 22 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 22 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 12 centres, including in centres operated by Ability West; Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG; Clann Mór Residential and Respite Company Limited; COPE Foundation; and Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services Company Limited. At the time of inspection, the provider was ensuring a good standard of support and care that met residents’ needs in these 12 centres. 

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• Staff in a Clann Mór Residential and Respite Company centre were observed interacting with residents in a kind, caring and respectful manner. For a resident who was missing seeing a friend who resided in a nursing home, a window visit to see their friend was organised by staff on the day of the inspection.
• In an Ability West centre, a home-based service was being provided to meet residents' needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents were involved in activities, such as taking exercise indoors and outdoors, including seated yoga.
• Residents in a COPE Foundation centre spoke with pride about actively participating in a webinar facilitated by Trinity College Dublin and they had their framed attendance certificates ready to show the inspector

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

Following a series of poor inspection findings in centres operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland in 2020, the registered provider was required to submit a comprehensive national improvement plan. Three of the inspection reports published today formed part of a monitoring programme by inspectors. While the provider is in the process of implementing their improvement plan, inspectors continued to find non-compliance in areas such as governance and management, fire precautions and safeguarding. 

Two centres operated by the Brothers of Charity Services required improvements to strengthen governance and management procedures and safeguarding arrangements. In one of the centres, inspectors also found that there was mould growing in a number of rooms in one of the houses.

An inspection of a Catholic Institute for Deaf People centre found that the centre was institutional and not very homely, and areas of the premises remained in a poor state of repair. Following the inspection, a decongregation plan was submitted to HIQA by the registered provider, along with confirmation of support to implement this from the organisation's funders.

Inspectors found non-compliance in areas such as residents’ rights and the management of restrictive practices in two Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services centres. In one centre, the provider did not ensure that all residents' rights relating to their personal, living space and relationships had been supported. In the other centre, the inspector found that improvements were needed so that all alternative measures were documented in the centre's review of restrictive practices. 

An inspection of a Carriglea Cáirde Services centre found that where residents had identified health needs, these were not always supported by appropriate healthcare plans.

In a COPE Foundation centre, residents were not supported to ensure their privacy and dignity was respected at all times.

Read all reports at www.hiqa.ie.