Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 26 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 26 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 16 centres operated by a number of providers including; Enable Ireland Disability Services Limited; GALRO Unlimited Company; Gheel Autism Services Company Limited by Guarantee; Health Service Executive (HSE); Muiríosa Foundation; MyLife by Estrela Hall Limited; North West Parents and Friends Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability and Nua Healthcare Services Limited.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a centre in Kildare operated by Nua Healthcare Services, residents spoke positively about the support they received. Residents told the inspector about how staff were supporting them with interview preparation as they were keen to gain part-time employment. Other residents spoke about their membership of a local leisure centre, where they regularly swam and enjoyed the other facilities available. 
• Residents at a centre in Westmeath operated by GALRO Unlimited Ireland were actively encouraged to express their views on the care and support they received, which prior to the inspection included filling out a questionnaire on how they felt about the centre. Residents were also supported to access a range of activities during the week which included, educational programmes, swimming, going to the cinema, and going out for lunch.  
• At a centre in Sligo operated by North West Parents and Friends Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability, residents told the inspector about how they enjoyed living at the centre and how they make choices about their day-to-day lives. Residents spoke about how they accessed their local community and enjoyed attending their day service, and going out for planned events, dinner and trips.

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

Non-compliance was found in three centres operated by the HSE. In one centre, an urgent action was issued to the provider to address fire safety risks identified on the day of inspection. In the other two centres, there was a need to improve infection prevention and control practices.

Two inspection reports have been published on centres operated by Praxis Care. In one centre, the fire evacuation procedures required review. In the other centre, an overreliance on agency staff did not ensure consistency of care for residents.

In an Inspire Wellbeing Company centre, governance and management arrangements, staffing and the management of records continued to be an ongoing issue that impacted on the quality and safety of care provided for residents.

Inspectors found non-compliance in two Muiríosa Foundation centres. In one centre, effective systems were not in place for the ongoing review and identification of risk. In the other centre, improvements were required in the notification of incidents, fire safety and governance and management, to ensure the premises was appropriate to the needs of residents.

An inspection of a centre operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited found that the centre was poorly governed and managed, which did not ensure the service was safe and appropriate to residents’ needs. 

In a Nua Healthcare Services centre, the maintenance and cleanliness of the premises required improvement. Improvements were also required in positive behaviour support for residents.  

Read all reports at the link below.