The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 25 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.

Of the 25 reports published, 12 of the inspections found that, in general, the provider was ensuring that residents had a good quality of life and were safe.

Inspectors found evidence of staff responding to the support needs of residents and ensuring that they had a good quality of life in centres operated by Carriglea Cairde Services, CoAction West Cork Ltd, Enable Ireland, Muiríosa Foundation, Stewarts Care Limited, Resilience Healthcare Limited and the Redwood Extended Care Facility.

Three reports relate to Rehabcare centres. Inspections in two of these centres found that residents received safe, high-quality care. However, the staffing arrangements in one of the centres were not adequate to meet the needs of residents. 

Reports on two centres operated by the COPE Foundation found major non-compliance in a number of areas. Poor governance and management arrangements meant that management had not identified and effectively addressed issues that impacted adversely on residents’ privacy and dignity. Inspectors found that improvements were required in such areas as arrangements for safeguarding residents from the risk of abuse and appropriately supporting residents who presented with behavioural issues.

An inspection in a respite service run by St Michael’s House found that the provider did not have adequate safeguarding procedures and suitably skilled staff in the centre. Another centre operated by the same provider found that improvements were required in fire safety, risk management and records maintained in the centre.

Three reports into centres operated by Stepping Stones are also being published today. In one of the centres, inspectors found that residents had a good quality of life, with some improvements required in the assessment of residents’ needs before they were admitted to the centre. However, in another centre, inspectors found that there had been insufficient progress in addressing the issues which had been identified on the previous inspection and there had been a frequent turnover in the management of the centre. In the third report, Stepping Stones had applied for a centre to be registered but inspectors found that the provider had not ensured the centre was safe and suitable to meet residents’ needs. Registration will not be progressed until the provider assures HIQA that these issues have been effectively addressed.

While there had been some improvements since the previous inspections, governance and management arrangements in two centres operated by The Cheshire Foundation in Ireland were found to be insufficient to ensure residents were safe and their needs were consistently met.

Four reports refer to Brothers of Charity centres. Two centres were found to provide residents with a good quality of life and were operating in compliance with the regulations and standards. However, residents’ health and social care needs were not always met in the other two centres.

A report on a centre operated by Autism West Ireland found a number of significant non-compliances across a range of outcomes. HIQA had concerns about the fitness of the provider of this centre and their ability to bring the centre into compliance with the regulations. Following discussions with HIQA, the provider decided to cease operation of the centre and residents were supported to transition to other centres.

An inspection of a centre operated by Ability West was carried out in response to the receipt of unsolicited information. The inspector found that the concerns of the person who contacted HIQA were substantiated and the provider was required to take action in relation to the improving the quality of life for residents in the centre, and addressing risk management issues and premises issues.