Disability services publication statement 15 November 2019

Date of publication:

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 19 centres, including in centres operated by Redwood Extended Care Facility; RehabCare; Saint Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny); St Christopher’s Services; St John of God Community Services; St Joseph’s Foundation; St Michael’s House; The Anne Sullivan Centre; and Western Care Association. At the time of inspection, the provider was ensuring a good standard of support and care that met residents’ needs in these 19 centres.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

  • residents of a Redwood Extended Care Facility told the inspector they were engaged in meaningful activities within their community and were supported to attend events of their choosing.
  • in a St John of God Community Services centre, residents were enabled and assisted to communicate their needs, wishes and choices which supported and promoted residents to make decisions about their care.
  • residents had their own bedrooms, access to shared spaces and adequate room for family or friends to visit in a St Joseph’s Foundation centre. The home was found to be warm and homely with age appropriate murals painted on the walls.
  • in a Western Care Association centre residents were supported to do things that they enjoyed both in organised day programmes, in the centre, and in the community. For example, residents were involved in household tasks, developing independent living skills, community involvement, and visiting and socialising with family and friends.

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

In a RehabCare centre, there were insufficient staff numbers to meet residents’ health and social care needs and to provide supervision, where necessary. In another centre operated by RehabCare, the provider had breached the conditions of its registration by admitting more residents than the centre was registered to care for. Furthermore, the provider had not made all necessary improvements to the centre within the timelines committed to following the previous inspection.

Inspection of a Saint Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny) centre found that the provider was required to strengthen its governance and management and staff training to ensure residents received a safe, good quality service.

Inspectors found that a centre operated by St John of God Community Services was not being maintained to an appropriate standard. The condition, layout and size of the premises had an impact on residents’ rights, infection control and fire safety. In another St John of God Community Services centre, the provider was required to take measures to safeguard residents and ensure they could exercise choice and had access to advocacy services.

In a St Joseph’s Foundation, fire precautions were required to be strengthened to ensure all residents could be safely evacuated in event of a fire. An inspection of a centre operated by S O S Kilkenny identified that the person in charge was not ensuring effective oversight of the care delivered to the residents who lived here.

In a centre operated by St Michael’s House, inspectors found that improvements were required to ensure residents participated in decisions about their care and could exercise choice and control in their daily lives.

 

All reports and compliance plans are available on www.hiqa.ie.