Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 35 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 35 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 11 centres operated by a number of providers including: KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities; L'Arche Ireland; Nua Healthcare Services Limited; Peter Bradley Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee; RehabCare; St Hilda’s Services; and Praxis Care.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a centre in Kildare operated by KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities, residents engaged in community activities including park and forest walks, swimming, GAA and social clubs, and tidy town initiatives. Residents’ rooms were decorated in line with their preferences such as with photos, artwork and birthday cards.
• Residents’ independence was promoted and encouraged at a centre operated by L'Arche Ireland in Kilkenny. Residents spoke positively about family visits and their daily activities, as well as a cat they had recently adopted.
• At a centre in Cork operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited, residents were actively involved in the caring for animals. Residents looked after three guinea goats on the centre’s grounds and also leased a plot of land to rear sheep. Residents had developed relationships with local farmers who gave them guidance and residents spoke about plans for lambing season and the gathering of silage. One resident also had pet lizards and spoke about the food they ate and how they cared for them. 

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 24 inspections.

Three inspection reports have been published on centres operated by Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny). A high level of non-compliance was found at one centre with governance and management systems not ensuring that residents received a quality service. In two other centres operated by the same provider, improvements were required in areas such as fire precautions, premises, training and staffing.

Four inspection reports have been published on centres operated by SOS Kilkenny Ltd. In three centres, improvements were required in areas such as premises, fire precautions, general welfare and development, and notification of incidents. In one centre, improvements were required in fire precautions, staffing arrangements and governance and management.

Three inspection reports have been published on centres operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited. In two centres, non-compliance was recorded in areas such as infection control, fire precautions, and notification of incidents. In one centre, inspectors required the provider to take immediate actions in relation to premises and fire precautions. 

Non-compliance was identified at four centres operated by RehabCare. In three centres, improvement was required in areas such as fire precautions, individual assessment and personal plan, and medication management. In another centre, an urgent compliance plan was issued relating to fire precautions, which was resolved on the day by the provider.

At a centre operated by St Hilda’s Services, inspectors found that the management systems in place did not effectively ensure oversight of the care and support provided to residents.

Non-compliance was identified in three centres operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited. Improvements were required in areas such as infection control, staffing and premises.

Inspectors identified inadequate staffing levels in two centres operated by Redwood Extended Care Facility Unlimited Company, with further improvement also being required on governance arrangements in one of the centres.

At a centre operated by KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities, inspectors found that improvements were required in fire precautions.

At two centres operated by Praxis Care, improvements were required in staffing, training, risk management, and individual assessment and personal plan. 

Finally, a centre operated by Offaly Centre for Independent Living CLG required improvements with fire precautions and medication management.

Read all reports at the link below.