Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 31 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 31 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 14 centres, including in centres operated by Ability West, An Breacadh Nua, Autism Initiatives Ireland CLG, Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, and Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services CLG.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• Residents in a centre in Galway operated by Ability West were supported to express their daily needs and choices through a range of communication methods and were actively involved in making decisions about the centre through regular house meetings.
• Residents at a respite centre in Clare operated by the Brothers of Charity Services Ireland told the inspector that they enjoyed their respite breaks and were supported to do activities they enjoyed. Residents and their families were asked for regular feedback to ensure the service met their needs.
• Residents at a centre in Meath operated by Autism Initiatives Ireland CLG played an active role in decision-making within the centre and were supported to keep in regular contact with their family through visits to the centre and to their family home, as well as regular video and phone calls. 

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 17 inspections.

HIQA has published two inspection reports on centres operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland where non-compliances were identified in areas such as fire safety, governance and management, risk management and premises. 

In eight centres operated by the Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, non-compliances were found in areas such as fire precautions, premises, use of restrictive practices, general welfare and development, positive behavioural support, risk management, individual assessment and personal plans, and response to complaints.

Non-compliances were identified in six centres operated by the Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services CLG in areas such as governance and management, fire precautions, premises, staffing, protection, residents’ rights, positive behavioural support, individual assessment and care plans. In one centre, inspectors made a referral to the Health Service Executive’s National Safeguarding Office.

In an Ability West centre in Galway, non-compliances were found in relation to positive behavioural support, risk management, complaints, governance and management, staffing, and medicines and pharmaceutical services. 

Read all reports at the link below.