Hiqa concern at claims of abuse at centre for disabled

Inspectors have said they are concerned about the high number of allegations and suspicions of abuse reported at a centre for people with disabilities.

Health watchdog Hiqa said there had been 102 safeguarding issues reported to the DLP (designated liaison person) in the centre in 2014 alone, with the majority of the incidents categorised as peer-to-peer physical abuse, or unexplained injuries.

Despite an open culture of reporting at the centre, the report read: “Inspectors were concerned with the provider’s inability to protect all residents from ongoing harm or abuse.”

The Hiqa inspection took place at a designated centre for people with disabilities operated and run by St John of God Community Services in Co Kildare.

The unannounced inspection was the first of its kind at the centre, which is home to 26 residents. According to the Hiqa report: “Overall, inspectors had concerns that the institutional setting and the resources available were having a negative impact on residents’ safety and quality of life.”

Chief among the concerns was a shortage of staff, inadequate training for some of those working at the facility, and “an inappropriate mix of residents with highly complex needs”.

The person in charge had been appointed just a week before the inspection in March and, despite evidence of good work by staff, the report found there were “direct negative outcomes for residents” at the facility.

According to the report: “Inspectors were concerned to find a high level of reported accidents, incidents, and near misses in this centre. On review of the adverse incident book since January 2015, there had been 77 entries relating to incidents involving residents. Inspectors were concerned that the provider was failing to put in place adequate control measures to prevent adverse events from reoccurring.”

Staff shortages and a lack of training were also cited as factors in the “lack of appropriate and timely safeguards” for residents. Hiqa inspectors found that, while some residents were subject to restraints, as laid out by a written restrictive protocol, it was not always clear whether alternatives to restraint had been tried first.

The centre’s seclusion room had been recorded as having been used only once in 2014. “On review of the rationale for its use, inspectors were very concerned to note documentation citing ‘staffing levels’ as part of the reason for its use,” the report read.

“Inspectors also found staff had not been provided with training in the area of autism awareness, this was concerning given that 19 of the 26 residents were on the autism spectrum and had needs in relation to this.”

An action plan has been issued for the facility to address the “high number of non-compliances”.