Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 20 inspection reports on designated centres for people with disabilities. 

Inspection reports have been published on centres operated by: Peter Bradley Foundation CLG; Praxis Care; Resilience Healthcare Limited; S O S Kilkenny CLG; St Christopher's Services CLG; St John of God Community Services CLG; St Michael's House; Talbot Care Unlimited Company; The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland; Three Steps Limited and Western Care Association.

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

• At a centre in Tipperary operated by Peter Bradley Foundation CLG, a resident shared their positive feedback about the care and support provided by staff. They described a planned woodwork project of refurbishing wooden drawers for their bedroom and their interest in soccer and the team they followed. The inspector met with another resident in the art room which was an important room for them and was decorated with their artwork. The resident told the inspector about their paintings and showed the inspector their bedroom which was also decorated with their own art.
• Residents were supported to engage in a range of individual interests and community-based activities at a centre in Kildare operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited. One resident showed the inspector their bedroom which contained jigsaws, perfumes and personal items of interest. They had also recently commenced an art class and were volunteering in a local charity shop, supporting the development of social and vocational skills. Two residents were due to speak at the annual Prader-Willi Syndrome conference about their experiences of residential services. Residents demonstrated confidence in expressing their positive views and experiences of living in the centre. 
   

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:

• Four inspections took place in centres operated by St Michael's House. In one centre, poor management of residents’ medications and unauthorised access to the centre increased risks for residents. In another centre, residents were impacted by ongoing incidents, and the existing premises did not support residents’ living arrangements. In response, the provider submitted compliance plans to address these issues.
• A resident’s personal finances were not adequately safeguarded at a centre operated by S O S Kilkenny CLG. The resident did not have access to their own finances as money was not paid into an account in their name. In response to the inspector’s findings, the provider undertook to open a bank account for this resident so they could be supported to manage their money independently.
• At a centre operated by St John of God Community Services CLG, the inspector noted that while residents engaged in a range of activities such as reflexology, art, music and sensory activities, most of these were home-based and residents spent little time engaging in activities outside of the centre. One resident’s personal plan showed activities that they enjoyed such as going to the cinema or bowling. However, the provider could not demonstrate if the resident was participating in these activities. 

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.