Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 26 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 26 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in eight centres operated by a number of providers including; Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, CoAction West Cork CLG, Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services CLG and Embrace Community Services Ltd.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a centre in Clare operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, residents proudly spoke about how they were supported to be independent both out in the community and at home. Residents also spoke about activities they enjoyed such as maintaining the centre’s garden and doing repairs on a boat in a local marina. 
• Residents in a centre operated by Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services CLG in Limerick were supported to set up their own homemade cards business, while another made beautiful artwork and baked brown bread which they sold at a local market.
• Residents at a centre in Galway operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG were supported to work towards a range of personal goals which reflected their needs. Staff supported residents to develop independence skills such as money management, cooking and personal care. Residents were also supported to access social activities such as going out for refreshments, shopping, swimming and going to the cinema.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 18 inspections. 

HIQA has published four inspection reports on centres operated by the Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG where non-compliance was identified. These four centres did not meet regulations in areas such as; risk management procedures, training and staff development, governance and management, medicines and pharmaceutical services, premises, registration or renewal of registration, fire precautions, temporary absence, transition and discharge of residents.

Five inspections on centres operated by Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services CLG identified non-compliance in regulations such as premises, risk management procedures, persons in charge, governance and management, staffing, fire precautions, training and staff development, and positive behavioural support.

Non-compliance was identified in governance and management at three centres operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland. Other non-compliances across these centres included fire precautions, personal possessions, risk management policies, staffing, premises, protection and residents' rights. At one centre, an immediate action was issued to improve risk management procedures.

Two centres operated by Dundas Unlimited Company recorded non-compliance for fire precautions, residents' rights and governance and management.

Two inspection reports on centres operated by Autism Initiatives Ireland CLG identified that regulations were not met in fire precautions, premises, registration, statement of purpose, notification of incidents, healthcare and positive behavioural support.

Finally, non-compliance was identified at a centre operated by Cheeverstown House CLG for premises, fire precautions and notification of incidents; while at a centre operated by the COPE Foundation, regulations were not met for the admissions and contract for the provision of services.

Read all reports at the link below.