Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 26 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 26 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 20 centres operated by a number of providers including: Saint Patrick's Centre (Kilkenny)/trading as Aurora-Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities; St John of God Community Services CLG; St Michael's House; Terra Glen Residential Care Services Limited; The Rehab Group; Trinity Support and Care Services Limited; and Western Care Association.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included: 

• At a respite centre in Kerry operated by St John of God Community Services CLG, staff had recently fundraised and purchased two new go-karts for the children that used the centre and a local men’s shed had made a sandpit for the centre. These additions made for a welcoming and fun space for children visiting the centre.
• Residents at a centre operated by St Michael’s House in Dublin said that they liked living in the house and in particular, were happy with support provided by staff and especially spoke about recent holidays which they had gone on support. 
• A centre operated by Western Care Association in Mayo, the building had been adapted to meet residents’ specific needs. For example, the kitchen table had been made to accommodate the residents’ wheelchairs, the front and rear of the house were accessible by wide ramps and photographs were hung at residents’ eye level.

Non-compliances that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents were identified in six other centres. 

Poor governance was identified at two centres operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. Restrictive practices and living arrangements impacted residents at one centre. At the other centre, improvements were needed in staffing, management of medications, premises and measures to protect residents against infection.

At a centre operated by Stepping Stones Residential Care Limited, poor governance had impacted on the management of risks and there were inadequate measures in place to protect against infection undermined residents’ safety and wellbeing.

Poor governance was identified at a centre operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited. Residents were impacted by poor management of safeguarding incidents and medications for residents. At a centre operated by Talbot Care Unlimited Company, improvements were needed in the management of medications for residents and meeting residents’ communications needs.

Finally, the premises of a centre operated by S O S Kilkenny CLG required improvements to meet residents’ needs.