Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 24 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. 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and to ensure robust infection control measures, not just relating to COVID-19, the Chief Inspector of Social Services commenced a programme of targeted inspections to assess registered providers’ compliance with Regulation 27: Protection against infection. The inspection programme aims to promote continuous quality improvement in infection prevention and control, in line with the National Standards for infection prevention and control in community services, (2018), as published by HIQA. 

Inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards across the 24 centres inspected. While only three centres were found to be fully compliant with Regulation 27, a further 16 centres were substantially compliant which indicates they have good infection prevention and control measures in place, but aspects of those controls could be improved further. Five centres operated by Ability West, Brothers of Charity Services Ireland, Child Vision, Health Service Executive (HSE) and Kerry Parents and Friends Association were found to be non-compliant, which meant that residents were not being adequately protected from the risk of infection. These providers were required to take actions to improve their infection prevention and control arrangements. 

Good practice was observed by inspectors in centres operated by: Avista CLG, Brothers of Charity Services CLG, Community Living Area T, KARE Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities, the HSE, GALRO Unlimited Company, Muiríosa Foundation, and North West Parents and Friends Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability. Examples included:

• Residents were supported to improve their awareness of infection control through easy-to-read materials and regular discussions in house meetings.
• Staff received infection control training and had access to up-to-date public health guidance to inform their practices.
• Where infection control risks were identified, these were being addressed by providers.
• Staff has access to appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), and received appropriate training on its use.

Examples of areas requiring improvement observed by inspectors included:

• Infection control contingency plans were not subject to regular review to ensure they were effective.
• Residents’ personal plans did not include infection control risks relevant to their individual care and support.
• Policies and staff guidance were not updated in line with national public health guidance.
• Storage arrangements did not always ensure appropriate separation of clean and soiled cleaning equipment.
• Management audits did not always identify infection control risks within the designated centres.

Read all reports at the link below.