The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 35 inspection reports on residential centres for older people. Inspections were carried out between June 2020 and March 2022. The Chief Inspector of Social Services has statutory responsibility for independently regulating designated centres for older people for compliance with the Health Act (2007) Regulations and the National Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland (2016), to ensure that the people living in these services are safe and well cared for.

Of the 35 reports published, inspectors found evidence of good practice and compliance with the regulations and standards on a number of inspections. HIQA found that 13 centres were either fully compliant or substantially compliant with the national standards and regulations. At the time of inspection, these centres were meeting residents’ needs and delivering care in line with the national standards and regulations. 

Levels of non-compliance varied in the remaining inspection reports, with five centres found to be non-compliant with one regulation, six centres non-compliant with two regulations, three centres non-compliant with three regulations and eight centres non-compliant with four or more regulations. On these inspections, non-compliance was identified in areas including; governance and management, premises, infection control, healthcare, fire precautions, residents' rights, risk management, individual assessment and care plan, staffing, training and staff development, and managing behaviour that is challenging.

Where non-compliance with the regulations was identified, providers were required to submit compliance plans to demonstrate how they will make improvements and come into compliance with the regulations. Submitted compliance plans are included in the published reports.

 A full list of reports published today accompanies this statement. 

Reports and compliance plans can be found on www.hiqa.ie.