Action plan issued to care centre over shortcomings

A centre for children with disabilities has been issued with an action plan after an inspection found a number of shortcomings, including in the management of medication.

The inspection report, published by Hiqa, follows a visit to a designated centre for people with disabilities operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited in Kerry. It opened in October 2013 as a residential/respite service offering a high support residential and respite service for children with an intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorders, and challenging behaviour.

Six children were using the centre at the time of the inspection, including one who lived in the centre on a permanent basis since December 2014. All of the children were diagnosed with autistic spectrum disorder.

The inspection found non-compliance in children’s care planning, risk management, fire safety, medication management, statement of purpose, review of service, and some aspects of workforce training.

One of the main issues uncovered was that children in emergency respite had photocopied prescriptions from the other residential centre they received respite care from — not from a GP. An immediate action plan was issued as the inspector “was not assured that children in receipt of emergency respite care were kept safe through the current medication management systems”.

The protocols in place for the use of chemical restraint were tailored to each child but were not signed off by all parents, although the prescribed use of these medications was stated on the childrens’ prescription record cards by an appropriate healthcare professional.

According to the Hiqa report: “The inspector did not see documented evidence that any potential episode of restraint was considered only if the potential benefit of restraint to the resident, and the risk involved if restraint is not used, outweighed the possible negative effects on the child subject to restraint.”

There was also a failure to maintain up to date assessments of children. In the case of the child who was living at the centre on a permanent basis, his/her healthcare needs had not been assessed upon admission by a healthcare professional.

An immediate action plan was issued and Hiqa said a satisfactory response was received from the provider.