Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 22 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 22 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 18 centres, including in centres operated by Dundas Unlimited Company; GALRO Unlimited Company; Gateway Community Care Limited; Health Service Executive; KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities; Muiríosa Foundation; Nua Healthcare Services Limited and Peter Bradley Foundation Company Limited.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• A Peter Bradley Foundation centre in Clare had been purpose built to promote accessibility. For example, the kitchen was adapted with lower-level work surfaces that allowed all residents including wheelchair users, to engage in meal preparation and cooking.
• In a GALRO Unlimited Company centre in Westmeath, residents explained how they liked animals, especially dogs, and that staff brought in their dogs some days which they really enjoyed. 
• Residents in a Nua Healthcare Services centre in Louth were supported to go for drives and scenic walks along the local nearby villages and beaches. Prior to the lockdown, the inspector observed that residents were being supported to visit community-based amenities, attend clubs and attend various day services.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on four inspections. 
Inspectors found non-compliance in three HSE centres. In two centres, improvement was required in the arrangements in place for the containment of fire. In the other centre, the provider had not ensured staffing arrangements were appropriate to residents’ needs and a number of staff also required refresher training. 

In a KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities centre, improvements were required to arrangements to protect residents from the risk of fire.

Read all reports at www.hiqa.ie.