Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has 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 services for people with disabilities in Ireland. 
Of these 23 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in ten centres operated by a number of providers including; Avista CLG, Barrow Valley Enterprise for Adult Members with Special Needs CLG, Cheeverstown House CLG, Dundas Unlimited Company, GALRO Unlimited Company, Health Service Executive (HSE), and Kingsriver Community Holdings CLG.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Limerick operated by Avista CLG, the needs of residents’ directed the care and support provided. Staff ensured that residents were consulted on all aspects of daily life such as supports during personal care. The provider had also appointed a resident as an entertainment representative and another as a spiritual wellbeing coordinator to further ensure residents’ needs were fully met. At a centre in Carlow operated by Barrow Valley Enterprise for Adult Members with Special Needs CLG, positive risk taking was actively promoted to support residents’ independence. For example, one resident was supported to independently access a local gym in the area.
• At a centre in Meath operated by Dundas Unlimited Company, residents’ rights were actively supported and further reinforced following staff attending human rights training. Residents were supported to make daily choices about their care and support, and staff used regular resident and one-to-one keyworker meetings to inform residents about their right to give or refuse consent, access advocacy and make choices. 

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on a further 13 inspections. 

Three reports with high levels of non-compliance have been published on centres operated by COPE Foundation. At one centre, insufficient staffing meant that residents’ personal care needs were not being met resulting in a safeguarding issue. Across these three centres, improvements were needed in areas such as residents’ general welfare and choices, staffing and training, fire safety and managing complaints.

Five reports have been published on centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG. Across these centres, improvements were needed in safeguarding arrangements, residents’ choices, fire safety, staffing, and the premises. 

A centre operated by Avista CLG required improvement in fire safety and the management of records. Improvements in overall governance were needed at a centre operated by Ability West. A centre operated by Barróg Healthcare Limited was found to be non-compliant due to measures to protect against infection, and a HSE centre required improvement to fully meet residents’ healthcare needs.

Finally, fire safety measures required improvements at a centre operated by Carriglea Cáirde Services.