The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published 22 reports on residential services 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 and respite services in Ireland. 

Ten reports have been published for centres operated by Brothers of Charity Services in Ireland. Inspections in four centres found a good level of compliance with the requirements of the regulations and standards. However, significant improvement was required in six centres. Inspectors found that fire precautions were insufficient in three centres to adequately protect residents from the risk of fire. An unannounced inspection in another centre found that the service being provided was not fully meeting residents’ needs in areas such as healthcare, communication and behaviour support. Inspectors were not assured that another centre was adequately resourced to ensure the effective and consistent delivery of care and support. A further Brothers of Charity centre was found to be in major non-compliance with all nine outcomes assessed on inspection. Following the significant risks to residents’ safety identified on this inspection, the provider was required to attend a meeting with HIQA to set out how they would ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents in that centre.

Nine of today’s reports refer to Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services centres. While inspectors found evidence of good practice and positive placements for residents in seven centres, another two centres were failing to meet residents’ needs. Governance and management of these centres did not ensure the delivery of safe and quality services. In one of these centres, residents told inspectors that they were dissatisfied with their current living situation. Inspectors found that residents’ privacy and dignity were infringed upon.

Three inspection reports have been published for two centres operated by Cork Association for Autism. One centre had been issued with a notice of proposal to refuse and cancel the centre’s registration. Inspectors found that while progress was being made to bring the centre into compliance, the provider was required to put long-term governance and management arrangements in place. Two inspections were carried out in another Cork Association for Autism centre. Inspectors found deficits in the management of complaints, risk and safeguarding. Both action plan responses submitted by the provider for these two inspections were rejected as they did not satisfactorily address the risk.