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 14 centres operated by a number of providers including; Enable Ireland Disability Services Limited, Health Service Executive (HSE), Muiríosa Foundation, Nua Healthcare Services Limited, Positive Futures: Achieving Dreams. Transforming Lives CLG, and Praxis Care.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a centre in Meath operated by the HSE, residents were supported to participate in a range of activities and interests. One resident enjoyed gardening and was supported to plant a herb garden and paint garden furniture. Residents were also looking forward to and excited about an upcoming overnight mini-break away to attend a music event and celebrate a resident’s birthday. 
• Residents at a new centre in Kildare operated by Muiríosa Foundation told the inspector that they ‘loved’ their new home and that the food was very good. Due to a resident’s anxiety about moving to the centre, staff had replicated the layout of their old bedroom, including the use of aromatherapy to help them to settle in better.
• At a centre operated by Positive Futures: Achieving Dreams. Transforming Lives. CLG in Leitrim, interactions between residents and staff were observed to be kind, caring and respectful. Residents were supported to participate in a range of activities at home and in their local communities, including visiting friends and participating in walking clubs, exercise classes, and plans linked to the Special Olympics. 

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 11 inspections. 

Five inspection reports have been published on centres operated by the HSE. At four of these centres, improvements were required in areas such as fire safety, premises, governance, and positive behaviour support arrangements. A high level of non-compliance was identified at a HSE centre with improvements required in protecting residents from the risk of abuse, staffing, governance, positive behaviour support and personal plans. 
At a centre operated by Peter Bradley Foundation CLG, urgent action was required to meet infection prevention and staffing requirements. 

At two centres operated by the Muiríosa Foundation, improvements were required in relation to fire safety and protecting residents from the risk of abuse. 
 
An inspection of a centre operated by KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities, found that worn and broken surfaces undermined the provider’s ability to ensure adequate protection against infection measures.

A centre operated by Peamount Healthcare was required to improve its compliance in the area of fire safety and arrangements to meet the assessed needs of residents.

Finally, non-compliance was recorded in fire safety standards at a centre operated by GALRO Unlimited Company.

Read all reports at the link below.