The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today 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 across all disability sectors in Ireland.

Inspectors found evidence of a good quality of life for residents and a high compliance with the regulatory requirements in 12 of the inspections. Services operated by Nua Healthcare, Delta Centre Ltd, St Aidan’s Day Care Centre Ltd, Muiriosa Foundation, Western Care Association and Gheel Autism Service were found to have appropriate management and governance arrangements which ensured that residents had a good quality of life and in general, received appropriate support from staff.

However, six of the nine inspections of centres run by Brothers of Charity were found to have issues in such areas as social care, risk management and medication management.

Two reports relate to services run by Rehabcare. While inspectors found that the service in one of the centres was to a good standard, the other centre was found to have issues in relation to promoting residents’ rights, providing appropriate social care and support, arrangements to safeguard residents and staffing arrangements. The provider was required to take immediate action to ensure that staff on duty had the required skills and competency in relation to administering prescribed medications.

Inspectors found that Carena Care had not taken adequate measures to ensure that the appropriate arrangements in relation to areas such as risk management, medication management, staffing and oversight of the service were in place for a new centre that they proposed to open. The provider was required to address all of these issues before their application to register was considered.