Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 30 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 30 inspections, inspectors found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 17 centres operated by a number of providers including; Clann Mór Residential and Respite CLG, COPE Foundation, Dundas Unlimited Company, GALRO Unlimited Company, L'Arche Ireland and Muiríosa Foundation.

Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:

• At a centre in Meath operated by Clann Mór Residential and Respite CLG, residents enjoyed choosing their own preferred activities such as meeting friends, writing poetry or engaging in exercise programmes. 
• Residents in a centre operated by Dundas Unlimited Company in Meath were supported to maintain active social lives within their local community through their families, friends and local clubs. In addition, residents availed of in-house activities such as using a pool table or computers.
• Residents at a centre in Laois operated by the Muiríosa Foundation proudly showed inspector how their rooms were decorated to their own individual tastes with pictures, birthday cards and other items that reflected their personal interests.

Inspectors identified non-compliance with the regulations and standards on 13 inspections. 

HIQA has published eight inspection reports on centres operated by the HSE where non-compliance was recorded. In one HSE centre, an immediate action was issued to the provider due to serious non-compliance with meeting residents’ healthcare needs. 

In seven other HSE centres, non-compliance was recorded across numerous regulations including; residents’ rights, healthcare, assessment of residents support needs and personal planning as well as a range of management issues such as appropriate training and development for staff, upkeep of the premises and admissions to the centre. 

Non-compliance was identified across six regulations at one centre operated by the COPE Foundation for staffing, governance and management, general welfare and development, fire precautions, individual assessment and personal plan and residents' rights.

Two centres operated separately by KARE, Promoting Inclusion for People with Intellectual Disabilities and Dundas Unlimited Company recorded non-compliance for fire precautions and premises. 

Staffing and training and staff development was recorded as non-compliant at a centre operated by Kerry Parents and Friends Association. 

A centre operated by the Muiríosa Foundation was required to make improvements in fire precautions. 

Read all reports at the link below.