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 Autism Initiatives Ireland; Brothers of Charity Services; Carriglea Cáirde Services; Dara Residential Services; Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services; Doorway to Life; and the Health Service Executive (HSE). At the time of inspection, the providers were ensuring a good standard care and support that met residents’ needs across these 13 centres.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• residents in a Dara Residential Services centre were well supported to participate in activities that promoted community inclusion. For example, residents attended local football matches, active retirement groups, went to the local hairdressers and attended different types of religious services.
• in a Carriglea Cáirde Services centre, the premises in all three houses were  found to be spacious, well designed, and meeting residents’ specific care and support needs. Each resident had their own bedroom which was decorated in line with their personal taste, and included a number of items from their family home or items they had personally chosen or purchased.
• in an Autism Initiatives centre, residents were supported and empowered to know their rights in a way that was meaningful to them and encouraged their participation. There was a mural of a colourful large tree on the kitchen wall with accessible information for residents about their rights.

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

An inspection of a centre operated by Ability West found that that effective oversights were not in place in the centre, and this had led to a significant deterioration in regulatory compliance.

Inspectors found non-compliance in two Brothers of Charity Services centres. Non-compliances were identified in critical areas such as management of the centres, sufficient resources to support residents and healthcare. Further regulatory engagement and action was undertaken with this provider following these inspection findings.

Following inspection in two centres operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland, the provider was required to improve safeguarding arrangements to ensure all residents were protected from the risk of abuse.

An inspection of a HSE centre found that the provider was failing to respond to negative issues for residents in relation to their living environment and inadequate supports available to residents. HIQA issued a notice of proposal to cancel the registration of this centre following this inspection. The report of a follow-up inspection has also been published today and that inspection found evidence of improvements in the governance and management of the centre; however, concerns remained in relation to staffing numbers, the premises and the compatibility of residents.

 An inspection of another HSE centre found a number of compatibility issues were ongoing between residents in one house. As a result, residents’ right to freedom of movement in their own home was being compromised and the safeguarding arrangements needed to be improved. 

There continues to be on-going regulatory engagement with the HSE in this area, given the findings of these inspections.

Read all reports at www.hiqa.ie.