Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 21 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 21 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 13 centres, including in centres operated by Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny); St Christopher's Services Company Limited; St Hilda's Services; St John of God Community Services; St Michael's House; Steadfast House Company Limited; Talbot Care Unlimited and Western Care Association.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• In a Steadfast House centre, residents told the inspector they were happy with the food choices available and that they could choose whatever meal they wished. Residents also said they really enjoyed getting a takeaway meal during their stay and had planned the takeaway they were getting that night.
• Residents in a Talbot Care centre told the inspector that they loved their home and in particular, their bedrooms, which were decorated to their individual likes and preferences.
• In a St Christopher's Services centre, residents spoke of goals they had been working on, including improving their physical health. Residents were being supported to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles, and this was leading to positive outcomes for them.

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

Two centres operated by St Michael’s House required improvements to strengthen governance and management procedures to ensure that the service provided to residents was safe, appropriate to their needs, consistent and effectively monitored. In one centre, management had not addressed an ongoing safeguarding issue which negatively impacted on residents’ experiences. 

Inspectors found non-compliance in two St John of God Community Services centres. In both centres, management did not ensure services were appropriate to residents' assessed needs. A significant outbreak of COVID-19 had occurred in one centre, requiring the strengthening of infection control procedures and additional staff training.

An inspection of a Stewarts Care centre found that the provider did not have the capacity to ensure the service provided was safe and effective in meeting residents' needs at all times. 

In two Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny) centres, the provider had not ensured that the service provided was safe and appropriate to residents’ needs. With one centre not ensuring that all potential safeguarding concerns were being addressed and investigated effectively. 

In a Talbot Care Unlimited centre, improvements were required in the safeguarding of residents from risk and in the resources to implement safeguarding plans. 

Read all reports at www.hiqa.ie.