HIQA's disability inspection team is legally responsible for the monitoring, inspection and registration of designated centres for adults and children with a disability.

Our main goal during inspection is to meet as many people as possible, including residents and families. We may also speak with members of staff, the person in charge and the person who represents the registered provider. This gives us an insight into the running of the designated centre and the good aspects of care there, such as residents being involved in the running of the centre.

Over the past five years, findings from our inspections have consistently highlighted three principal characteristics that determine a good service.

  1. A staff culture that promotes and protects the rights and dignity of residents through person-centred care and support.
  2. A service that is led by a capable person in charge (supported by the provider) who is knowledgeable about the support needs of residents. This is demonstrated through high-quality safe care and support.
  3. A provider who has robust arrangements in place to assure itself that a safe, good quality service is being provided to residents. This is demonstrated through good governance and management.

We use regulations and national standards to monitor and inspect.

This ensures that providers deliver a safe, quality service to residents. Inspections ensure that services meet the requirements set out by the Health Act 2007, regulations and national standards in order to be registered to operate.

We carry out different types of inspections, some of which are announced and unannounced.

We are seeking assurance that the regulations are being adhered to.

We want to know that people who are receiving residential care and support:

  • are safe
  • have their rights respected
  • are included in decisions about their care and support
  • are provided with care and support that matches their individual health and social needs and
  • have a good quality of life.

We then publish our inspection reports on our website.

These reports give information to the public on what it is like to live in the centre and whether a centre provides consistently good care and support.

Inspectors review all information about the centre including that gathered during inspection and any unsolicited information received, and use it to inform our work. Our aim is to ensure that good care is provided to residents, and we take necessary action to enforce this when required.

Download the register here

Under the Functions of the Chief Inspector as set out in the Health Act 2007 (Amended)  (section 41 (b) the Chief inspector is required to (b) establish and maintain one or more registers of designated centres.  The content of the register is outlined by Statutory Instrument and includes such as (but not limited to) the below;

•    Date of registration and the expiry date
•    Registered provider and related contact details
•    Person in charge
•    Persons participating in management of the designated centre
•    The number of residents that can be accommodated at the designated centre
•    Any conditions applying

What is a Section 64 Centre?

Where a registered provider is not providing a safe service to residents, the Chief Inspector may cancel the provider’s registration of a centre. When a centre’s registration is cancelled, the HSE is the responsible body that must take over the running of the designated centre until alternative arrangements can be made for the residents under section 64 of the Health Act 2007 (as amended). The section 64 register is available from the link below.

Download the Section 64 Register