Hiqa finds 'significant concerns' about residents' safety during inspection of disability centre

A high level of non-compliance with regulations was also noted during the inspection at a centre operated by the Cope Foundation in Cork City. Picture: Sam Boal / © RollingNews.ie

Twenty of 27 centres for people with disabilities were found to be non-compliant with regulations and standards during inspections conducted by the Health and Information Quality Authority (Hiqa).

Eleven of the 20 non-compliant centres included in Hiqa's latest disability services report, published on Thursday, are operated by the Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG.

A "high level" of non-compliance was noted during the inspection of one of these centres — the Comeragh Residential Services Centre in Kilmeaden, Waterford.

On the day of the inspection, Hiqa noted "a number of significant concerns" and said staffing provision "did not ensure residents were safe, had their care and support needs met and respected their rights at all times."

The inspector also said the premises — a large two-storey house — required "substantial maintenance" internally, and that one upstairs room allocated for storage was in "significant disarray", with residents' belongings "in piles, falling out of wardrobes or in black bags".

Overall, Hiqa's report outlined improvements be undertaken across all areas under which the centre was examined: fire safety, staffing, premises, staff training, measures to protect against infection, residents’ rights, and safeguarding.

Non-compliance in Cork centre

Across the remaining 10 centres operated by the Brothers of Charity Services, non-compliance with regulations was identified in areas including fire safety, staffing, premises, safeguarding incidents, measures to protect against infection, residents’ rights and premises.

A high level of non-compliance with regulations was also noted during the inspection at a centre operated by the Cope Foundation in Cork City. In its latest report, Hiqa outlined that a number of areas judged as being non-compliant in an inspection in October 2022 had not been effectively addressed.

Separate inspections also found a centre operated by CoAction West Cork CLG to be non-compliant, along with four centres operated by Ability West in Galway, and two centres in Dublin operated by Avista CLG.

The final non-compliant judgement referred to a centre operated by Camphill Communities of Ireland in Kildare, which Hiqa's inspector said required improvements to residents' personal plans and the premises.

The Irish Examiner has contacted the Brothers of Charity Services Ireland CLG for a response.