Call for independent checks at disability homes
Inclusion Ireland is calling on Social Protection Minister Joan Burton to fully commence the 2007 Citizens Information Act, giving powers to disability advocates to enter residential services and make enquiries about vulnerable adults.
It also called on Kathleen Lynch, minister of state with responsibility for disability, to ensure a well-resourced volunteer advocacy programme is in place in St Raphael’s Residential Centre, Co Cork, and similar facilities.
“A key commitment in the HSE six-point plan, which Minister Lynch announced after the events in Áras Attracta, was the development of a volunteer advocacy programme,” said Inclusion Ireland chief executive Paddy Connolly. “One year later, there has been no progress in this.”
The HSE said this week that there is now increased external advocacy support available to residents and their families at St Raphael’s centres for adults with intellectual disabilities in Youghal. These include the first meeting last month of a family forum for relatives of residents there, held by Inclusion Ireland.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) said in a report of its inspection of St Raphael’s Residential Centre in August — one of three St Raphael’s facilities for which reports were published this week — that an advocate had recently been appointed and details of the service were available on each unit.
However, while two residents accessed the independent advocate service in August, it was hard to determine the level of access all residents had to the services.
The Department of Social Protection said the National Advocacy Service (NAS) for People with Disabilities, set up in 2011, works to ensure due consideration is given the the will and preference of people with disabilities when life decisions are made.
“NAS has experienced some issues with service providers when seeking information and meaningful engagement with the advocacy process,” a department spokesperson said.
The department and the Citizens Information Board, which set up the service, are considering the need for laws to support access for NAS advocates in the case of significant resistance.
Hiqa took the unprecedented step five weeks ago of getting orders in the District Court requiring new management and systems monitoring care to be taken by the HSE at St Raphael’s Residential Centre and two other centres at the same campus — Oakvale Residential Centre and Youghal Community Hostels.
Hiqa felt the HSE had not responded adequately to recommendations arising from its visits since last March, prompted by an allegation that a resident was assaulted by staff. The failings identified in nine inspection reports published this week included instances of issues not being notified as required to Hiqa, such as residents being physically restrained while bloods were taken, and unexplained bruising. Inspectors saw a resident in one unit stand on a chair and lean out an open -sash window for fresh air.
