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 generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 14 centres operated by a number of providers including: Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG; Health Service Executive (HSE); Nua Healthcare Services Limited; and Orchard Community Care Limited.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a centre in Galway operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, sensory rooms were equipped with comfortable seating, large colourful bean bags, sensory lighting, bubble tube and liquid lava sensory floor mats as well as art and crafts materials, which provided a stimulating environment for residents.
• A centre operated by Nua Healthcare Services Limited in Laois had a colourful, well-kept garden. One resident, who was a keen gardener, brought the inspector to the garden and explained that they took care of the flowers, plants and edible produce.
• At centre operated by the HSE in Cavan, staff had adapted written procedures, as well as social stories, with photographs to meet residents’ communication needs.

Non-compliances that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents were identified in 12 other centres. 

Poor governance was identified at a centre operated by Nua Healthcare. Residents were not receiving adequate support to meet their educational needs and residents were impacted by restrictive practices.

At two centres operated by the HSE, poor governance impacted on residents. At one centre, improvements were needed to support residents’ development, daily activities and to minimise restrictive practices. At another centre, the provider was required to strengthen the management of residents’ finances. 

Poor governance was identified at five centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG. Across these centres, improvements were needed to protect residents from safeguarding incidents, fire safety measures and in staffing to support residents.

At three centres operated by the Muiríosa Foundation, improvements were needed in residents’ finances and living arrangements, and fire safety measures. 

Finally, at a centre operated by Peamount Healthcare, staffing arrangements required improvement to meet the needs of residents.