Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 33 inspection reports on designated centres for people with disabilities. Inspection reports have been published on centres operated by: Horizons; Orchard Community Care Limited; Peamount Healthcare; Resilience Healthcare Limited; Stewarts Care DAC; S O S Kilkenny CLG; St Aidan’s Services; St Christopher's Services CLG; St John of God Community Services CLG; St Joseph's Foundation; St Michael's House; The Children's Sunshine Home; and Western Care Association.

Inspectors found good practice in many of the centres inspected, including:

• Residents at a centre in Tipperary operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited enjoyed activities such as baking, watching movies, and listening to music. Outings and events included shopping, coffee or meals out, visiting the church, meeting up with family, trips to the National Stud and the Zoo, swimming and reflexology, along with celebrating life events such as birthdays.
• At a centre in Wexford operated by St Aidan’s Services, residents' rooms were filled with photos from different events and activities they had attended as part of achieving their personal goals. Their rooms were also had family photos and items of significance to the residents. The personal goals that residents were working towards were put into a frame and displayed. It was evident that residents' personal goals were part of their everyday lives. 

Some centres were required to make improvements to enable the best possible outcomes for residents. Providers of these centres submitted compliance plans outlining the changes they will make following the inspection. These included:

• Improvements were required at five centres operated by St Michael's House. In one centre, an immediate action was issued to address concerns about fire evacuation measures. The provider gave written assurances on the actions being taken to ensure residents’ safety, following the inspection. In another centre, ongoing safeguarding incidents undermined residents’ quality of life. In response, the provider committed to enhanced staffing levels to support residents’ compatibility and had begun to explore alternative living arrangements for a resident. 
• Improvements were required in different areas across six centres operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. In one centre, residents did not have regular access to hobbies and recreational activities. In response, the provider implemented a weekly activity plan for residents’ activities. In another centre, renovations to the premises meant that residents in one unit no longer had access to a formal dining room. The inspector was informed that this had recently been referred to the provider’s rights committee and plans were in place to review the arrangement.

Editor’s notes:

• 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.