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

Inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 18 inspections, including in centres operated by L’Arche Ireland, Praxis Care, the Muiríosa Foundation, North West Parents and Friends Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability, Nua Healthcare Services, the Peter Bradley Foundation, and Prosper Fingal Limited. In these centres, the provider was ensuring a good standard of support and care at the time of inspection. Non-compliance with the regulations and standards was found on four inspections.

Inspections of six Praxis Care centres found that five centres were meeting the needs of residents in line with the regulations and standards. In another Praxis Care centre, admissions policies and procedures required improvement in order to protect residents from abuse, as some admissions were deemed inappropriate by inspectors. In addition, inspectors identified an overreliance on relief staff and issues related to the maintenance of the premises. Further non-compliance was identified in areas such as training and staff development; governance and management; personal possessions; risk management procedures; fire precautions; positive behavioural support; protection; and medicines and pharmaceutical services.

Also published this morning are reports on five centres operated by RehabCare. While three centres were in compliance with the regulations and standards, non-compliance was found in two centres. An inspection of one centre found that measures taken by the provider to prevent incidents of abuse were not effective, which was having a negative impact on the lives of residents. An inspection of another RehabCare centre identified non-compliance in areas such as governance and management, risk management procedures, fire precautions, and positive behavioural support.

An inspection of a centre operated by MMC Children’s Services Limited found that improvements were required to the centre’s outdoor area, staffing arrangements, and individual assessment and personal plans.