The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 23 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 14 inspections, including in centres operated by the HSE, Gateway Community Care, Enable Ireland Disability Services, Gheel Autism Services, KARE, Peamount Healthcare, and Prosper Fingal. 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 nine inspections.

Inspections of six centres operated by the HSE found that three centres were providing a good standard of care to residents at the time of inspection; however, non-compliance with the regulations and standards was identified on three inspections. In one centre, inspectors found that improvements were required to the centre’s governance and management arrangements. In addition, concerns raised about the centre’s risk-management procedures resulted in the provider being required to take immediate action. In a follow-up inspection of this centre, while many of the concerns from the previous inspection had been addressed, non-compliance was identified in areas including persons in charge; governance and management; notification of incidents; risk management procedures; positive behavioural support; and protection. 

In another HSE centre, it was found that the capacity and capability of the centre to provide for residents’ complex needs had not been adequately assessed. Further improvements were required to the centre’s premises, use of restrictive practices, and fire precautions.

Also published this morning are four inspection reports of centres operated by the Muiríosa Foundation. While two centres were in compliance with the regulations and standards, non-compliance was identified in two other centres. One centre required improvement to its fire precautions. Another centre’s complaints management procedures required improvement, and inspectors noted that its own safeguarding procedures were not always followed. 

An inspection of a centre operated by Nua Healthcare Services found that improvements were required in the areas of admission assessments and decision-making around admissions, child transitions, and the timing of admissions to the centre. Further improvements were required to the centre’s governance and management, and positive behavioural support.

A centre operated by Praxis Care was found to have made significant improvements since the previous inspection; however, improvements were required to the centre’s admissions and contracts for the provision of services; risk management procedures; and individual assessments and personal plans.

In an inspection of a centre operated by RehabCare, inspectors were not assured that the centre’s governance and management arrangements ensured that a safe and effective service was being provided for residents. Further non-compliance was identified in the areas of staffing; risk management procedures; fire precautions; medicines and pharmaceutical services; general welfare and development; and individual assessments and personal plans.

An inspection of a centre operated by St Patrick’s Centre found non-compliance in the areas of governance and management; written policies and procedures; premises; temporary absence, transition and discharge of residents; and risk management procedures.