“Initial inspections showed lack of understanding on how to meet regulations and standards”

The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) today published its Annual Overview Report on the regulation of designated centres for adults and children with disabilities.

This report is the first annual overview of HIQA’s regulatory work in relation to centres for people with disabilities. HIQA inspected 561 of the 937 designated centres for adults and mixed centres for adults and children with disabilities in 2015. There were 741 inspections in total. This report presents an overview of the findings from the 518 announced and 223 unannounced inspections.

Mary Dunnion, Chief Inspector of Social Services and Director of Regulation in HIQA, said:”Initial inspections in 2014 showed there was a lack of understanding on how to meet the requirements of the regulations and the standards. In particular, HIQA found that residents living in many large congregated settings were not being adequately protected or kept safe. Institutionalized care practices that had been ongoing for years were having an adverse impact on the quality of life for residents.”

However, regulation has brought a cultural change to the sector and has steadily led to improvements in the standard of care provided to residents. The inspections carried out in 2015 found evidence of a high standard of care and a focus on individual resident’s needs and preferences in many cases. Some providers were found to provide an excellent standard of care. HIQA found that providers continued to implement improved systems for complying with regulatory requirements and standards. As a result, an overall pattern has begun to emerge showing evidence of positive impacts and improved outcomes for people with disabilities.

 Of inspection reports published in 2015, 49 inspections did not identify any actions required while a further 208 inspections required less than 10 actions.

Mary Dunnion continued: “Evidence shows that where there was a competent person in charge, a centre was able to meet the regulations and standards. Good compliance was found in centres where the person in charge had sufficient oversight of the quality and safety of the service being delivered. Residents’ rights, dignity and privacy were respected and measures were taken to improve their quality of life.”

However, this is not reflective of practice across all centres. HIQA has had to commit significant resources to risk-based inspections where and when residents’ safety has been breached and has had to take enforcement action in a number of centres during 2015 to drive improvements in the standard of care. Formal enforcement procedures under Section 59 and Section 60 of the Health Act 2007 as amended were used in respect of fourcentresduring 2015.

Mary Dunnion concluded: “If a provider fails to address the areas of concern identified during inspection then HIQA must consider escalated regulatory action. The priority for the person in charge, and for all staff, must be to continue to improve residents’ quality of life. HIQA is committed to continuing to work with services to drive improvements in the quality of care that residents receive.”

“HIQA will continue to use the information from our regulatory activities to learn and to improve the way we do our work.”

Ends.

Further Information:

Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, HIQA
01 814 7480 / 086 2447 623 mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to the Editor:

• There were 741 inspections into 561 designated centres for adults and mixed adults and children in 2015. Of these inspections, 518 were announced and 223 were unannounced.
• By 31 December 2015, 368 designated centres for adults and mixed adults and children were registered with HIQA.
• Overall, 10,422 notifications from providers and persons in charge and 174 pieces of unsolicited information were submitted from the public relating to incidents and concerns about centres for adults and mixed adults and children with disabilities.
• Formal enforcement procedures under Section 59 and Section 60 of the Health Act 2007, as amended, were used in fourcentresduring 2015. HIQA successfully applied to the court to cancel the registration of one centre.
• In 2015, 74 centres submitted voluntary closure notices to HIQA.
• 7,881 regulatory breaches were found on inspections in 2015.
• Four centres required five or more inspections during the year.