The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 28 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.

Inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 22 inspections, including in centres operated by the Moorehall Disability Services; Nua Healthcare Services; Praxis Care; RehabCare; S O S Kilkenny; St Aidan’s Day Care Centre; St John of God Community Services; St Joseph’s Foundation; St Michael’s House; St. Paul’s Child and Family Care Centre; Steadfast House and Stewarts Care Limited. In these centres, the provider was ensuring a good standard of support and care at the time of inspection.

Non-compliance with the regulations and standards was found on six inspections.

Inspections of two centres operated by Nua Healthcare Services found that one centre was complying with the regulations and standards, while another centre was found to be in compliance with many regulations, compatibility issues in this centre were having a negative impact on residents.  

Inspectors found that a centre operated by Saint Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny) required a higher level of oversight and monitoring to ensure an effective and safe service was being provided to residents. Following this inspection, the provider was issued with an urgent action to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all residents.

Reports on six St John of God Community Services centres have also been published. Evidence of good practice was identified in five centres; however, inspectors required assurances that one centre was adequately resourced to meet the needs of residents.

Two inspections of centres operated by St Michael’s House found that one centre was generally operating in compliance with the regulations and standards. In another centre, a number of significant issues had not been addressed or followed up on since the previous inspection. Inspectors found that failure to address these non-compliances was impacting on key areas of residents' lives, such as upholding their rights and protecting them from harm.

Following a HIQA inspection, a Stepping Stones Residential Care centre was required to improve its fire safety measures and medicines administration practices.

Inspection reports on two Stewarts Care Limited centres have also been published. Both inspections were carried out for the purpose of registering newly configured centres. Inspectors found that Stewarts Care Limited had strengthened the organisation’s overall governance and management structure and systems. However in one centre, local management arrangements required improvement to ensure adequate oversight of the service, in particular around assessment and planning to meet residents’ social care needs.