Disability services publication statement 12 December 2018

Date of publication:

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 30 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 and respite services for people with disabilities in Ireland.

Inspections found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 19 centres, including centres operated by Ability West, Brothers of Charity Services, Cheeverstown House CLG, Enable Ireland, the Health Service Executive (HSE), Praxis Care, RehabCare, St John of God Community Services, St Michael’s House, and Western Care Association. In these centres, the provider was ensuring a good standard of support and care at the time of inspection. Non-compliance with regulations and standards was found in 11 centres.

Reports on seven centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services have been published. While two services were found to be in compliance with the regulations and standards, non-compliance was identified in five centres. One centre had inadequate staff available to support residents and was not able to demonstrate that they could safely evacuate all residents in the event of a fire. In another centre, concerns about residents’ access to social activities were not being sufficiently addressed by the provider. In another centre, while improvements had been made to the standard of care delivered to residents, HIQA had not been notified of alleged peer-to-peer incidents as required. In another centre, improvements to fire precautions were required.

An inspection of a Cheshire Foundation centre found that management systems required improvement to ensure that the service was effectively monitored and that actions were addressed.

In a centre operated by Kerry Parents and Friends Association, maintenance work was required in two houses; fire safety upgrade works were not completed as planned by the provider due to lack of funding; and staffing levels remained insufficient to meet the changing needs of residents since the last inspection.

In a centre operated by MooreHaven Centre (Tipperary), management arrangements to address non-compliance with the regulations required improvement, staff training was not up to date, and concerns were not appropriately managed.

Reports on three centres operated by St John of God Community Services have also been published. While one centre was meeting the requirements of the regulations and standards, another two centres had not implemented plans to move residents to more suitable community-based houses.

In a centre operated by Three Steps Unlimited Company, care and support was person-centred and in line with residents’ needs and wishes. However, improvements were required in administering medicines, positive behavioural support and educational supports for one resident.