The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 19 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. 

Inspections found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 14 centres, including centres operated by Childvision, Dundas Ltd, and Saint Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny). In these centres, the provider was ensuring a good standard of care and quality of life to residents at the time of inspection. 

Reports on two centres operated by the Health Service Executive (HSE) have been published. In one centre, care was being delivered to residents in line with the regulations. Notices of proposal to cancel the registration and refuse the renewal of registration of another HSE centre had previously been issued. While the provider had made some progress in addressing the failings, social care provision and delivery of person-centred care had not improved for residents and institutional-type practices remained. Inspectors continue to monitor this centre closely.

Seven inspection reports have been published on centres provided by Brothers of Charity Services. Six centres were found to be operating in line with the regulations and standards. In the seventh centre, the provider was failing to meet residents’ needs due to an inadequate number of staff and lack of consistent staffing in the centre. Furthermore, the person in charge did not have sufficient oversight of the centre. 

Inspections of two centres provided by Ability West have also been published. While one centre was found to be compliant with the regulations and standards on inspection, the provider had not ensured that risk was appropriately managed in another centre. 

Three inspection reports on Daughters of Charity centres have been published. Inspectors found that residents’ needs were generally being met in one centre. In another centre, the provider had not made improvements since the previous inspection in areas such as fire precautions, residents’ rights and the premises.

Notices of proposal to cancel and refuse the registration of another Daughters of Charity centre had previously been issued. The provider had failed to submit a fully costed and time-bound plan to HIQA that would satisfactorily address the identified failings, and as a result the premises remained unsuitable to meet the needs of the residents who lived there.