The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 19 reports on residential services 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 across all disability services in Ireland.

During 10 of these inspections, it was found that, in general, the provider was ensuring good levels of compliance and there was a focus on promoting the quality of life of residents.

Inspectors found evidence of staff responding to the support needs of residents and ensuring good levels of compliance in centres operated by Peacehaven, Three Steps, Walkinstown Association for People with an Intellectual Disability and Western Care Association.

Inspections into seven Daughters of Charity centres found that while some improvements were required, four centres were providing safe services which were focused on meeting the needs of residents. In these centres residents were generally supported to be independent and the teaching of life skills was used to support residents to participate in their preferred community-based activities.

However, significant risk was found in three of the seven Daughters of Charity centres. One centre was not suitable to meet the assessed needs of residents and had been issued a notice of proposal to refuse and cancel registration of the centre. Another centre operated by this provider had an inappropriate number of residents living together whose social care needs were incompatible and were not being met. Major non-compliance in the area of health and safety and risk management was found on an unannounced inspection in the third centre operated by this provider. Fire safety risks, which had been identified in 2014, remained unaddressed at this centre.

A centre run by Little Angels Association Letterkenny was found to have four major non-compliances at this inspection. While there were good systems in place to support residents’ social care needs, the governance, management and financial viability of this centre were of serious concern.

Significant fire safety concerns were found at a centre operated by North West Parents and Friends Association of Mentally Handicapped Children. Staff had not completed fire safety training, fire doors were ineffective and fire drills had not taken into account night-time staffing arrangements. However, there was evidence of good management systems in the centre including goods systems to support residents’ healthcare needs.

One inspection report relating to a centre run by Nua Healthcare has also been published today. This inspection was carried out in response to unsolicited information received by HIQA in relation to the safeguarding of residents, infection control and risk management. This information was substantiated on inspection and four major non-compliances were identified.

Reports on three centres run by St Catherine’s Association for children with disabilities found that while there had been some improvement since previous inspections there continued to significant failings in areas such as the oversight of healthcare needs as well as in admissions and contracts for the provision of services.