No inquiry at care centre despite allegations of abuse

A residential centre for people with disabilities has still not concluded an investigation into alleged abuse five months after the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) was notified of it.

An inspection report by Hiqa has strongly criticised a number of aspects of care at the designated centre for people with disabilities, operated by Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services in Co Tipperary.

The centre, which can accommodate 31 residents, is not named in the report but is known to be Unit A on the St Anne’s campus near Roscrea.

The inspection was the fifth at the centre and, according to the report, was made in response to notices of proposal to refuse and cancel registration of the centre that were issued by Hiqa to the Daughters of Charity in response to an application by the provider to register the centre.

According to the Hiqa report, published yesterday: “At this inspection, it was found that the policy on prevention, detection, and response to abuse available in the centre still did not adequately address how to respond to anonymous allegations of abuse of residents.

“It was again found on this inspection that the management of restrictive practices required significant improvement. An investigation into a notification submitted to the Authority on 16 June 2015 concerning an allegation of abuse against a member of staff was still outstanding as of 9 November 2015.”

According to the report, allegations had been made last December regarding the possible forced administration of medication to a resident. At a previous inspection, it was found that that the resident’s chin and hands were restrained in the course of the administration of medication inserted in food.

While a new protocol had been developed following the allegations — and according to the nurse on duty, it was being implemented and was working well — an inspector found that the multi-disciplinary restrictive practice document in the resident’s file was dated April of last year.

“As a result, the restrictive practices document in place still referenced a practice that was no longer approved i.e. cupping the resident’s chin,” it said.

In a separate inspection report on another centre operated by Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services, this time in Limerick, Hiqa found good practice but also areas of non-compliance, including overnight staffing arrangements. Between 11pm and 7am staff were not ‘on-duty’.

One resident who was unable to move and reposition themselves was positioned on their side at 11pm and remained so until 7am.