Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 27 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 27 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 15 centres, including in centres operated by Muiríosa Foundation; Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Peter Bradley Foundation Company Limited; Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny); St Christopher's Services Company Limited; St John of God Community Services Company Limited; St Michael's House; Sunbeam House Services Company Limited; Talbot Care Unlimited Company and The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• In a Nua Healthcare Services centre in Kildare, one resident told the inspector that they were having a birthday party and were going to involve their family members by hosting the party online. The resident and the staff team had arranged for a cake and party refreshments to be purchased ahead of the celebration.
• Residents in a Peter Bradley Foundation centre in Dublin, were supported to take part in local services and programmes. Residents took part in classes while at the centre through video conferencing, participating in activities which included Irish language, baking, music therapy, bingo and mindfulness classes.
• In a Talbot Care Unlimited Company in Dublin, one-to-one staffing and a large premises enabled the residents to maintain their own preferred routines and have access to quiet spaces, which in turn helped them with the management of their personal anxieties.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 12 inspections. 

Non-compliance was identified in inspections of three St John of God Community Services centres. In two centres, improvements in protection and infection control arrangements were required to ensure the supports provided reflected residents’ needs. In the other centre, the provider had not ensured that the premises had suitable fire safety arrangements in place.

An inspection of a Muiríosa Foundation centre found that not all risks were appropriately identified, assessed and managed. For example, the provider had not recognised or addressed the risks posed to residents by inadequate fire safety measures. 

An inspection of a Stewart’s Care centre found that the provider was required to strengthen its governance and management to ensure the delivery of high-quality, person-centred care and support for residents.

In a St Michael’s House centre, governance and management systems were ineffective. The provider had failed to identify and respond to issues around safety and the ongoing quality of care of residents. A further centre operated by St Michael’s House, was in breach of two conditions of registration. 

An inspection of a Resilience Healthcare Limited centre found that each resident’s privacy and dignity was not respected. Residents also did not have the freedom to exercise choice and control in their daily life.

Two centres operated by St Aidan's Day Care Centre Company required improvements to strengthen governance and management procedures, to ensure residents’ rights were promoted and institutionalised care practices were addressed.

An inspection of a Saint Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny) found that improvements were required in relation to the governance and management of the centre and in the notification of incidents. 

Read all reports at www.hiqa.ie.