Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 32 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. 
Today’s publication includes 13 reports which are part of HIQA’s programme of thematic inspections of adult safeguarding in designated centres for people with disabilities. The programme focuses on assessing the safeguarding measures that are in place in designated centres for people with disabilities, and aims to promote quality improvement across services.

Of these 32 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 25 centres operated by a number of providers including: Autism Initiatives Ireland CLG; Avista CLG; Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG; L'Arche Ireland; Muiríosa Foundation; Peter Bradley Foundation CLG; Resilience Healthcare Limited; St John of God Community Services CLG; The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland; The Rehab Group; Delta Centre CLG;
Health Service Executive (HSE); Horizons; L'Arche Ireland; Muiríosa Foundation; MyLife by Estrela Hall Limited; Nua Healthcare Services Limited and Orchard Community Care Limited.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• During an inspection of a respite centre in Carlow operated by Delta Centre CLG, residents took part in a meeting at the start of their stay where they were given choices around meal planning and the types of activities they wished to do while on their respite stay. Residents were helped to make these choices through the use of pictures to help explain what options were available to them.
• At a centre in Waterford operated by Peter Bradley Foundation CLG, residents spoke about how important their independence was to them and described how staff supported and encouraged this. Residents spoke about how they liked to spend their time at the centre and in the local community. Residents spoke about enjoying arts and crafts, photography, lake and sea fishing, playing musical instruments, and watching football, hurling, soccer and rugby matches.
• Residents were supported to stay in touch with important people in their lives and to make choices and decisions about their day-to-day lives, at a centre in Wicklow operated by The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland. One resident explained how she spoke to her sibling every day as well as a holiday to Italy they went on with the support of staff.
   

Non-compliance that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents was identified in seven other centres. 

Poor governance increased the risks facing residents at a centre operated by Lotus Care Limited. An urgent action was issued to the provider to assess residents’ needs and support their development. In addition, the provider had failed to follow national safeguarding processes and their obligations under Children First Act 2015.

Residents at a centre operated by Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny)/trading as Aurora-Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities were adversely impacted by poor governance arrangements. Improvements were required by the provider to protect residents’ rights, manage safeguarding incidents and risks affecting residents, and also to the premises.

Poor governance was identified at two centres operated by Gheel Autism Services CLG. Improvements were required in managing residents’ risks, their finances and personal plans, and in staff training.

At a centre operated by the HSE inspectors observed poor governance arrangements. Improvements were required in the living arrangements between residents, staff training and to the management of risks.

At a centre operated by Horizons, improvements were needed in residents’ management of their finances and personal plans. Finally, improvements were required to the staffing of a centre operated by the Muiríosa Foundation.