Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 25 inspection reports on designated centres 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 services for people with disabilities in Ireland. 

Of these 25 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 14 centres operated by a number of providers including; Ability West, Brothers of Charity Services CLG, CoAction West Cork CLG, COPE Foundation, Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services CLG, Enable Ireland Disability Services Limited and GALRO Unlimited Company.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a centre in Galway operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, residents told inspectors about their involvement in the community, how they enjoyed going out for meals, coffee and 'for a pint'. One resident talked proudly about how they had completed a personal goal of a 70 mile walking challenge for charity. 
• Care planning arrangements in a centre in Cork operated by CoAction West Cork CLG had been changed to reflect the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents’ goals and activities. Each resident had a wellness plan in place which focused on positive emotions, being kind to oneself and undertaking activities that could boost their mood. 
• At a centre in Laois operated by GALRO Unlimited Company, residents were supported with their daily activities and to make decisions through visual supports (for example, pictures of activities, social stories, visual schedules). Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 11 inspections.  

HIQA has published three inspection reports on centres operated by Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services CLG where non-compliance was identified. Improvements were required in a number of areas such as; governance and management, protection, risk management and fire precautions. 

Areas of non-compliance were also identified at three centres operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland, such as staffing, governance and management, and individual assessment and personal plan. At one centre, the provider was in breach of its conditions of registration and accommodating a resident in a part of the premises that was not part of the designated centre. 

Inspectors identified non-compliance in fire precautions at a centre operated Ability West and in governance and management, and fire precautions at a centre operated by Cumas New Ross. 

A centre operated by Bradbury House Ireland Limited was found to be non-compliant with governance and management, training and staff development and fire precautions.

In two centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG, non-compliance was found in areas such as governance and management, individual assessment and personal plan, positive behavioural support, and notifications.