Disability services publication statement 30 January 2020

Date of publication:

Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 25 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 25 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 17 centres, including in centres operated by Ability West; An Breacadh Nua; Autism Initiatives Ireland; Brothers of Charity Services Ireland; Cheeverstown House; ChildVision; COPE Foundation; and Dara Residential Services. At the time of inspection, the provider was ensuring a good standard of support and care that met residents’ needs in these 17 centres.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

  • staff in an Ability West centre supported residents to participate in activities and pursue their areas of interest, such as involvement in local education programmes, employment opportunities, visiting and socialising with family and friends, attending entertainment events and developing independent living skills.
  • in a centre operated by Autism Initiatives Ireland, staff knew residents very well and through their good understanding of the individual way each resident communicated, were able to ensure that residents were involved in planning all aspects of their day, for example, through visual supports.
  • staff in a Cheeverstown House centre had ensured that residents’ personal plans were developed in a way that residents found easier to understand and this enabled residents to be very involved in pursuing their personal goals and interests.

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

Four centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services required improvements to strengthen governance and management. Due to a lack of management oversight, inspectors found a high level of non-compliance across these four centres. Residents’ needs were not being consistently met and the provider was not ensuring that the service was safe at all times.

Two inspections of Camphill Communities of Ireland centres found that the staffing arrangements in place to support residents required review. The management of these centres were required to ensure residents were provided with continuity of care and that staff were appropriately supervised in their roles.

Inspectors identified areas of non-compliance with the regulations in two COPE Foundation centres. In one centre, residents had limited access to activities of their choice due to low staffing levels and lack of an accessible vehicle. An inspection of another centre operated by this provider found that, while improvements had been made in the management systems in the centre, further improvements were required to ensure a consistent and effective delivery of care and support for residents.  

Read all reports at www.hiqa.ie.