Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 27 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 27 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 20 centres, including in centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland; Camphill Communities of Ireland; ChildVision; Cumas New Ross; Dara Residential Services; Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services; Dundas Ltd; and the Health Service Executive (HSE). At the time of inspection, the provider was ensuring a good standard of support and care that met residents’ needs in these 20 centres.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• residents in a Brothers of Charity Services centre told the inspector that they felt well cared for and safe while in the centre, that they trusted the staff, and that they had good access to activities of their choice.
• residents in a Camphill Communities of Ireland centre were supported to take their first foreign holiday through the development of social stories and accessible information for residents in a format that they could understand. Personal plans were also adapted to meet residents’ needs using Braille and assistive technology.
• resident consultation and feedback was facilitated on a continuous basis and residents were encouraged to express their choices and opinions as part of the overall ethos and culture in a ChildVision centre. Residents were afforded the support of an independent advocate.
• on the day of inspection in a HSE centre, staff were preparing to bring three residents on an overnight stay to a hotel. The trip stay had been planned with residents’ input, with appropriate staffing levels and equipment being made available to ensure residents' safety and enjoyment during the break away.

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

Two inspection reports on the one HSE centre have been published today. Following the poor findings on the first inspection, a warning letter was issued to the provider and a second inspection was carried out to assess whether the provider had addressed the issues of concern within the specified time frame. HIQA found that that the HSE had not addressed the accommodation needs of the residents and are in the process of taking further regulatory action with the provider in relation to this centre.

An inspection of another HSE centre found that staffing levels remained inconsistent in the centre, despite this issue being identified by inspectors two years previously. Furthermore, residents did not have access to their own finances.

Inspectors found that management structures in a Daughters of Charity centre were ineffective due to a lack of staff training and a lack of continuity of care for residents. In another centre operated by this provider, inspectors found that action had not been taken to address previously identified fire upgrade works.

An inspection of a Brothers of Charity Services centre found that the provider was not ensuring effective governance, operational management and administration of the centre. Inspectors found insufficient staffing levels to meet the needs of residents in the centre on the day of inspection.

Improvements were required in a centre operated by Delta Centre to ensure there were adequate fire containment measures in place.

All reports and compliance plans are available on www.hiqa.ie.