Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 20 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.

Eight centres were found to have a good level of compliance with the requirements of the regulations and standards, including centres operated by Muiríosa Foundation, Dundas Ltd, G.A.L.R.O. Limited and North West Parents and Friends Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability. However, HIQA found areas of non-compliance in 12 centres.

Three reports published today refer to centres provided by Daughters of Charity. Inspectors found that two centres required upgrades to their fire containment arrangements, such as the installation of implementing additional fire doors. An inspection in a third centre found that the premises remained unsuitable for meeting the needs of current residents.

Three centres operated by Nua Healthcare Services were found to have areas of non-compliance. While a number of systems and resources had been put in place to promote the quality and safety of the service delivered in one centre, further improvements were required in meeting residents’ healthcare needs. Inspectors found that the safeguarding and social care needs of residents were not being adequately met in one centre. In another centre, the provider’s risk management measures needed to be improved.

Of the three reports published for the COPE Foundation centres, one centre was found to be in compliance with the standards and regulations. However, two campus-based centres were required to make improvements to safeguarding arrangements and meeting the behaviour support needs of residents.

Two reports refer to centres operated by Brothers of Charity. In one centre, inspectors found improvements were required to the provider's governance and assurance systems, such as the detection and reporting of safeguarding concerns and the completion of fire safety checks. In another centre, the management systems in place did not adequately ensure that the service provided was safe, appropriate to residents’ needs, consistent and effectively monitored.

An inspection of a Camphill Communities of Ireland centre found that improvements identified on the previous inspection had not been sustained. Changes in governance structures and staffing arrangements were adversely impacting on the quality of residents’ care.

Inspection of a Cork Association for Autism centre, which had previously been the subject of escalated regulatory activity, found the while further improvements were required, sustained improvement was being made to the care and support residents received in the centre.

An inspection of a centre operated by Gheel Autism Services found that improvements were required in the documentation used to managing risks in the centre, and actions from the previous inspection relating to fire precautions had not been satisfactorily implemented.