Recruitment crisis at Cork and Kerry disability centres 'a significant concern and risk' for patients

Hiqa found centres so short-staffed residents are in distress or miss out on activities

Hiqa warned staff and residents at Cork City North 14 centre faced 'stress and emotional distress' linked to the low number of staff and skill mix of staff on duty. File picture

A number of disability centres for adults including on Valentia Island in Kerry and Cork City are so short-staffed residents are in distress or miss out on activities, health watchdog Hiqa has warned.

On Valentia Island, Hiqa found staff vacancies posed a risk for residents and the centre.

The Kerry Parents and Friends Association centre is home to adults with disabilities but despite having “a very committed” staff and management team, Hiqa raised serious questions about recruitment.

Inspectors identified three long-standing vacancies, with more to come in the near future. It was told recruitment efforts so far have been unsuccessful.

“While a very committed and flexible local staff and management team were reducing the impact of ongoing recruitment issues in the centre, this remained a significant concern and risk for the centre,” Hiqa said on Thursday.

Hiqa raised questions about the significant impact on residents if this situation continued.

It found the centre was relying on agency staff and overtime, including gaps in nursing care for residents with complex needs. The person in charge had raised these problems with the provider.

The centre also provides day services and inspectors reported high levels of satisfaction with care provided for day and residential care.

This was one of 28 inspection reports on designated centres for people with disabilities published by Hiqa.

At the Cork City North 14 centre run by Horizons, the Hiqa inspectors also found the number and skill mix of staff did not match residents’ needs.

It warned staff and residents faced “stress and emotional distress” linked to the low number of staff and skill mix of staff on duty.

It found residents could not attend their day service on a number of occasions due to staff shortages. On three evenings, it found no nurse on duty during a snapshot of records for May and June.

The centre has submitted a business case for funding to address these issues.

Inspectors also raised questions about the complaints process. 

The records showed: “A large proportion relating to adverse interactions between peers, aggression being displayed and upset being caused."

The report noted it was not clear residents were satisfied with how this was dealt with at the centre.

Similarly at the Cork City North 3 centre, also run by Horizons, Hiqa found staff numbers and the skills mix did not match what residents needed.

Inspectors found six vacancies and were told the centre had raised the “high risk” with the regional manager for the service.

Residents’ planned activities are being cancelled in some cases because of the shortages or because staff are stretched trying to also cover external dental or medical appointments for other residents.