Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 23 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 23 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in nine centres operated by a number of providers including; RehabCare, St Catherine's Association CLG, St Hilda's Services, St John of God Community Services CLG, Talbot Care Unlimited Company and The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

•  At a centre in Galway operated by RehabCare, a person-centred culture and a focus on residents’ welfare was evident across the centre. Residents were supported by staff to exercise their rights, and were involved in part-time and supported work prior to the pandemic restrictions. Residents enjoyed a range of activities and were encouraged to take part in interests, such as playing the guitar and writing poetry. Residents said that they felt safe living at the centre and got on well with staff who supported them.
• Residents at a centre operated by St Hilda's Services in Westmeath took part in a gardening project. Residents had been involved in painting the garden’s furniture and shed, as well as growing vegetables and herbs which were used in cooking at the centre. 
• At a centre in Sligo operated by The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland, residents were supported with their independence by staff, as well as their own personal assistants. Residents had their own self-contained apartments which reflected their own needs and interests, and residents said they were happy with the support they received at the centre. 

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 14 inspections. 

Due to poor findings at a centre operated by Stewarts Care Ltd, a notice of proposed decision to cancel the registration of the centre was issued to the provider following the inspection. Practices and arrangements in the centre did not promote or uphold residents' rights in relation to respect, dignity, privacy, and freedom of choice and control in their daily lives. Furthermore, the inspector was not assured that all residents were protected from all forms of abuse. HIQA continues to engage with the provider and has completed a follow-up inspection, which found improvements had been made. The proposal to cancel the registration has since been withdrawn, and the follow-up report will be published in due course. 

At a centre operated by St Hilda’s Services, non-compliance was identified in regulations such as governance and management, written policies and procedures, fire precautions, records, notification of incidents, and positive behavioural support.

Three inspection reports have been published on centres operated by RehabCare. In two of these centres, improvements were required in areas such as positive behavioural support and risk management procedures. An urgent action was issued to RehabCare at another centre due to inadequate fire precautions.

Non-compliance with fire precautions was found at centres separately operated by St John of God Community Services CLG, SOS Kilkenny Ltd and at a centre operated by The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland.

As part of a focused inspection programme carried out to assess infection prevention and control practices and procedures, three centres — operated by Peamount Healthcare, St Joseph's Foundation and Resilience Healthcare Limited CLG — were found to have insufficient measures in place to protect against infection.

Non-compliance was identified at a centre operated by Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny) in the area of premises and measures to protect against infection.

Non-compliance with medicines and pharmaceutical services was recorded at a centre operated by Praxis Care.

Finally, a centre operated by Talbot Care Unlimited Company was required to improve its admissions process and contracts for residents.

Read all reports at the link below.