Disability services publication statement 28 June 2021

Date of publication:

Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 28 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 28 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 18 centres, including in centres operated by Gheel Autism Services Company Limited; KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities; Kerry Parents and Friends Association; L'Arche Ireland; Muiríosa Foundation; MyLife by Estrela Hall Limited; North West Parents and Friends Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability; Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Peter Bradley Foundation Company Limited; Praxis Care; Redwood Extended Care Facility Unlimited Company and Redwood Neurobehavioural Services Unlimited Company.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

  • In a Gheel Autism Services centre in Dublin, residents had access to a number of communal garden areas within the campus. A horticulturist was part of the staff team and supported residents to grow a range of fruit and vegetables in a polytunnel and large communal gardens.
  • Staff in a Redwood Extended Care Facility centre in Cavan supported residents to take part in online activities. These included bingo nights, karaoke and yoga sessions.
  • In a MyLife by Estrela Hall centre in Louth, the provider had developed a resident council and residents voted for their peers to represent them. The meetings focused on capturing the voice of residents and allowed residents to input into the service being provided.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 10 inspections. 

Inspectors found non-compliance in two KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities centres. In both centres, improvement was required in relation to fire safety arrangements. Also in one centre, some areas of the centre were poorly maintained and required updating. 

An inspection of a Kerry Parents and Friends centre found that improvement was required in the effectiveness of safeguarding procedures.

An inspection of a Kingsriver Community Holdings centre found that systems were not in place to provide effective governance and management oversight of the centre.   

Inspectors found non-compliance in two Muiríosa Foundation centres. In one centre, the provider did not have arrangements in place to ensure the compatibility of residents. In the other centre, fire safety arrangements required improvement.

In a Nua Healthcare centre, safeguarding arrangements did not ensure that residents always lived in a safe environment.

In a Praxis Care Centre, governance and management arrangements did not ensure that the service being provided was appropriate to residents’ needs. In addition, the centre’s design did not ensure residents’ privacy and dignity.

An inspection of a Peamount Healthcare centre found that governance and management arrangements did not ensure residents’ needs were met. 

Read all reports at www.hiqa.ie. 

  • Reports published 28 June 2021

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