Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 35 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 35 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 18 centres operated by a number of providers including; Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services CLG, Dundas Unlimited Company, Embrace Community Services Ltd, GALRO Unlimited Company, Gheel Autism Services CLG and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a centre in Kildare operated by Gheel Autism Services CLG, residents were regularly consulted about their care and the running of their home. Residents were supported in regular meetings with staff to make choices about meals they would like to eat and activities they wished to engage in.
• Residents at a HSE-run centre in Donegal spoke about a holiday they had recently enjoyed and the activities they had done while away. One resident enjoyed bird watching which was reflected in the décor of their bedroom, they also had a bird house and feeders outside their bedroom window which allowed them to enjoy their hobby in comfort.
• In a centre in Meath operated by Dundas Unlimited Company, the premises was decorated for Halloween, with residents expressing satisfaction with their living arrangements. One resident spoke about their planned holiday abroad in 2022, while another talked about being part of a sports club and hoping to represent their club in an international event in the near future. 

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 17 inspections. 

Eight inspection reports on centres operated by Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services CLG required improvements to meet the regulations. These areas of non-compliance varied according to each centre but included; governance and management, staffing, training, protection, premises, fire precautions, risk management, rights, and general welfare and development.

Non-compliance was identified in seven centres operated by the HSE. Four of these centres failed to meet the regulations in areas such as; fire precautions, risk management procedures, premises and infection prevention and control.

In three HSE-run centres based in a campus setting in Donegal, inspectors had previously required the provider to implement an improvement plan. While there were some improvements identified on these inspections, there continued to be non-compliance in a range of areas which negatively impact on the quality of life experienced by residents and the care and support they received.

At a centre operated by Enable Ireland Disability Services Limited, improvement was required in governance and management and the fire precautions in the centre.

Finally, at a centre operated by Delta Centre CLG, inspectors found that residents' experiences in the service were being negatively impacted by insufficient staff numbers and limited access to behaviour support services.

Read all reports at the link below.