Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 28 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 28 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 10 centres operated by a number of providers including; St John of God Community Services CLG, St Michael's House, St. Paul's Child and Family Care Centre Designated Activity Company, Talbot Care Unlimited Company, The Rehab Group, Three Steps Limited and Western Care Association.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a centre in Mayo operated by Western Care Association, residents exercised choice in how they lived their lives, setting personal goals with the assistance of staff. Residents enjoyed music lessons, sport, gardening and engaging with the local community. 
• The needs of children in a centre operated by the Talbot Care Unlimited Company in Meath were actively supported with their bedrooms being designed to reflect their individual needs and preferences and supports in place to ensure their educational needs were meet at school.
• Residents at a centre in Louth, operated by St John of God Community Services CLG, were actively supported to take positive risks enabling them to enjoy cultural, social, personal, spiritual and occupational opportunities, achievements, and new experiences which as hotel breaks and learning to ride a bicycle.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 18 inspections. 

HIQA has published eight inspection reports on centres operated by St John of God Community Services CLG where non-compliance was recorded. These centres failed to meet the regulations in areas such as; fire precautions, general welfare and development, premises, notification of incidents, residents' rights, staffing, training and staff development, governance and management, protection, positive behavioural support and fire precautions.

HIQA has published six inspection reports on centres operated by St Michael's House where non-compliance was identified. These centres did not meet the regulations across a range of areas including; registration, governance and management, premises, protection against infection, fire precautions, medicines and pharmaceutical services, training and staff development and premises. At one centre, an immediate action was issued requiring improvements to fire safety measures. 

A centre operated by the Cheshire Foundation in Ireland was found to be non-compliant for governance and management, notification of incidents, visits and fire precautions.

A centre operated by Stepping Stones Residential Care Limited failed to meet the regulations for governance and management. 

Read all reports at the link below.