The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 21 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 in Ireland.

Twelve centres were found to have a good level of compliance with the requirements of the regulations and standards, including four centres operated by Waterford Intellectual Disability Association. However, HIQA found areas of non-compliance in nine centres.

Reports on nine centres operated by St John of God Community Services have been published today. Seven centres were found to be providing a service that was in compliance with the standards and regulations. Management of risk required improvement in one centre, while the size, layout and lack of communal space of part of another centre was failing to meet residents’ needs.

Inspections found two centres on a campus run by Stewarts Care Limited were in major breach of the regulations. Inspectors found institutional practices were continuing to impact negatively on residents’ lives, and the provider was failing to provide a safe and reliable service which appropriately met residents' needs and protected them from abuse.

Two reports refer to St Joseph’s Foundation centres. Inspection of one centre found that the provider was generally meeting residents’ needs in line with the standards. While inspection of a second centre found improvements in some areas since the previous inspection, the provider was required to review safeguarding and safety measures and medicines management to ensure residents were safe and protected.

Two reports on centres operated by Sunbeam House Services have also been published. Significant improvements were required in one centre in relation to the risk management arrangements and fire precautions in the centre. In the other centre, the provider was required to improve documentation to ensure it was reflective of practice in the centre and would enable comprehensive care planning.

An inspection of a centre operated by St Michael’s House found inadequate care planning was not ensuring that residents’ assessed needs were met. Another inspection found that a Children’s Sunshine Home centre did not have a contract of care in place with residents which outlined the terms of their placement and the fees involved.