The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 23 inspection reports on 22 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 and respite services for people with disabilities in Ireland.

Inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 19 inspections, including in centres operated by Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services, the HSE, Gheel Autism Services, Kerry Parents and Friends Association, and KARE. In these centres, the provider was ensuring a good standard of support and care at the time of inspection. Non-compliance with regulations and standards was found in four inspections of three centres.

Reports on 13 centres operated by the HSE have been published. While 10 centres were found to be in compliance with the regulations and standards, non-compliance was identified in three inspections of two centres. In one centre, inspectors identified an overreliance on agency staff due to long-term staff absences.

Two inspection reports have been published for one HSE centre which had been issued notices of proposal to cancel its registration due to high levels of non-compliance identified on previous inspections. The provider engaged with a six-month regulatory plan with HIQA and the provider strengthened its governance and management arrangements. Inspectors found that these improvements were beginning to have a positive impact upon the service provided to residents. However, these inspections still found areas of non-compliance in relation to the suitability of the premises, staffing arrangements, the management of complaints and in the protection of residents’ rights.

Also published this morning is a report on a follow-up inspection of a centre operated by Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services. Inspectors found that the provider had not adequately addressed issues identified on the previous inspection, which had found a high level of non-compliance. In particular, the newly developed governance arrangements did not ensure that the service was effectively monitored, and improvements were required in the areas of protection and residents’ rights. Further non-compliance was identified in areas including staffing; training and staff development; premises; risk management procedures; fire precautions; medicines and pharmaceutical services; individual assessment and personal plan; and positive behavioural support.