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.

Of the 20 reports, seven of the inspections found that, in general the provider was ensuring that residents had a good quality of life and were safe.

Four of today’s reports relate to services run by Daughters of Charity. One of the reports was in relation to a community-based service where staff were found to support residents to achieve a good quality of life. However, the other three reports found that the provider was failing to ensure a safe and good quality service for residents. Inspectors found significant deficiencies in the manner that risk was being managed in these centres. There were also issues with medication management in one of the centres.

Three of the four inspections of services run by the Health Service Executive (HSE) found that the HSE was failing to ensure the safety of residents in their services and was not ensuring that the support and care being delivered to residents was based on their assessed needs. Non-compliances were found in the outcomes of Health and Safety and Risk Management, Safeguarding and Safety, and Governance and Management. A fourth inspection report for a HSE centre found that the provider was delivering a good quality of service to residents in that centre.

Three of the reports relate to centres run by St John of God Services. On two inspections, inspectors found that the provider continued to fail to provide a good quality of service to residents in two of the centres. The provider was required to take action to improve the privacy and dignity of residents, to ensure that residents with behaviour support needs were cared for in a positive way and action was required in relation to the supervision and training of staff working with residents. Residents in a third centre were found to be supported to have a good quality of life.

Inspections of three L’Arche Ireland centres found that two centres provided residents with a good quality of support and care and were fully compliant with the regulations and standards. One centre had failings in relation to residents’ rights and the submission of notifications to HIQA.

A report into a centre run by the Cork Association for Autism found major non-compliances across four outcomes in relation to Healthcare Needs, Medicines Management, Social Care Needs and Safe and Suitable Premises.

Three reports of centres run by St Michael’s House found compliance in two centres. Issues of poor risk management and poor governance and management were found in one centre.

Also published today are reports of two centres run by Kerry Parents and Friends Association. Four major non-compliances were found on both of these inspections with significant risks found for residents in relation to fire detection and prevention and the safeguarding of vulnerable residents.