The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 20 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.

All of today’s reports relate to centres which are provided by the Health Service Executive (HSE). During nine 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 these centres.

In the case of two of these centres, inspections took place after applications were made by the Muiríosa Foundation to become the new provider of these centres. While non-compliances were found in both centres relating to residents’ privacy, HIQA is assured that when action plans are implemented, residents’ dignity and privacy will be fully promoted and there will be improved outcomes for residents.

However, significant risks to the health, safety and wellbeing of residents were found in nine centres.

In a respite service in the North West there were significant safeguarding concerns. Inspectors found that allegations of abuse had not been appropriately reported or investigated in accordance with national safeguarding policies or procedures. Vulnerable residents were not being adequately protected as a result. In total, 11 major non-compliances were identified out of the 18 outcomes inspected.

The report for another centre in the North West also highlights safeguarding concerns and poor levels of compliance. The report found there were inadequate governance and management arrangements, as there had been four changes to the person in charge of the centre in the previous four months. All five outcomes inspected against were found to have major non-compliances. Inspectors also found that the premises were not fit for purpose, and were institutional in design.

An announced inspection in another centre in the same region found that while improvements had been made in the safeguarding of residents since the previous inspection further improvement was required. In this case all staff were not provided with the necessary training to meet residents’ needs.

One report relates to a follow-up inspection to identify if progress had been made since the commencement of a court order granted in November 2015. While the report acknowledges that improvements had been made in some areas, significant fire safety risks and poor infection prevention and control practices were found. Staff vacancies and lack of staff supervision in this centre were having negative impacts on the safety and quality of care residents received.

Six major non-compliances were found on an unannounced inspection at another centre. Actions from the previous inspection had not been completed within the required timeframes. Residents expressed to inspectors that the size and layout of the premises were negatively impacting on them. HIQA issued a notice of improvement to the provider following this inspection requiring certain actions to be taken within specified timeframes. Inspectors also found that unsuitable premises failed to meet the needs of all residents in two other centres.

An inspection of a number of community group homes which comprise a designated centre found that the large distance between these houses was impacting on the effective oversight and management of the service. Inspectors found a lack of effective governance and management in another community-based centre, with improvements required in regards to social care, risk management, safeguarding and contracts of care.

HIQA continues to monitor these centres closely, and will take further regulatory action in relation to them if the provider does not bring about improvements for residents in those centres.