Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 34 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 34 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 12 centres operated by a number of providers including; Avista CLG, Barrow Valley Enterprise for Adult Members with Special Needs CLG, Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, Camphill Communities of Ireland, Co Wexford Community Workshop (Enniscorthy) CLG, GALRO Unlimited Company, and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a HSE centre in Donegal, residents were supported by staff to actively be part of their local community. Residents enjoyed attending church, participating in reflexology sessions, having meals out and going for walks. They also participated in activities such as gardening, cooking, and arts & crafts with residents recently participating in a Christmas card competition and displaying their entries at the designated centre. 
   
• At a centre in Wexford operated by Co Wexford Community Workshop (Enniscorthy) CLG, residents expressed their satisfaction with the care and support they received both through discussions with the inspector and completed feedback questionnaires, with comments such  as 'I like this home because everyone is nice', or 'I think the staff are really good to us'. Residents were also encouraged by staff to participate in a diverse range of activities which reflected their needs and preferences such as baking, gardening and helping with household tasks.
   
• During an inspection of a centre in Clare operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, the inspector observed a true sense of person-centred care and happiness. Residents accessed the centre for respite care, with both residents and their families being activity involved in the planning of their visits. The consultation with residents and families was further reflected in feedback questionnaires where a high level of satisfaction was reported.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 21 inspections.

A high level of non-compliance was identified at a centre operated by the COPE Foundation. Improvements were required in areas such as infection control, residents’ supports and personal plans, governance arrangements, staffing, and the notification of incidents to HIQA as required by regulation. Because of a failure to effectively address poor outcomes for residents in a number of centres, the Chief Inspector of Social Services has initiated a six month escalated regulatory programme across COPE Foundation centres. 

Non-compliance was recorded in areas such as infection control, residents’ personal plans, risk management and governance, at a centre operated by Clann Mór Residential and Respite Company CLG.

Improvements were required in three centres operated by Ability West due to non-compliance in areas such as fire safety, staffing, management of risk, residents’ personal plans and healthcare needs.
 
Four reports with non-compliance have been published on centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG. Improvements were required in areas such as fire safety, premises, and staffing.

Three centres operated by Avista CLG required improvements in areas such as staffing, governance, and the management of incidents and medication.
Two HSE centres required improvements in areas such as fire safety, premises, and measures to protect against infection. 

Non-compliance was identified across two centres operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland in areas such as staffing, fire safety, and the safeguarding of residents. 

Improvements were required in residents’ finances and contracts of care at a centre operated by Kerry Parents and Friends Association. Insufficient staffing was identified during an inspection of a centre operated by Autism Initiatives Ireland CLG. Better medication management arrangements were required at a centre operated by GALRO Unlimited Company.

Finally, improvements were required in areas such as residents’ possessions and infection prevention and control at two centres operated by Cheeverstown House CLG. 

Read all reports at the link below.