Disability centre resident’s involvement in furniture purchase queried by Hiqa

The State’s health watchdog has said it was “difficult to see” how a resident of a designated centre for people with disabilities was involved in the decision to purchase and pay for a piece of furniture.

A Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) inspector said it was hard to see the voices of residents when it came to decisions made in the daily operation of the James Connolly Memorial Residential Unit in Co Donegal.

“For example, a piece of furniture for a resident’s bedroom was purchased,” an inspection report published on Wednesday.

“This was paid for by the resident and recorded in their personal property log. Despite this, it was difficult to see how the resident was involved in the decision to purchase and pay for this as it was of enhanced quality and therefore of additional cost.

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“There was no policy available in the centre on the management of residents’ personal finances.”

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The unannounced inspection at the unit, which provides care and support to nine adults with disabilities, was carried out over two days last December.

Of 41 inspections carried out by Hiqa at designated centres for people with disabilities, there was a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 21 premises.

In a statement, Hiqa said inspectors had been conducting an “enhanced inspection programme” of Health Service Executive-operated centres in Co Donegal. While there have been improvements in some centres, others “were not providing the standard of care and support that residents are entitled to and the provider was required to take prompt action to address the issues”.

Inspectors who visited the HSE-operated James Connolly Memorial Residential Unit noted there were “numerous changes” to the roster provided.

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“For example, during one week in November 2022 there were in excess of 50 changes to the roster and this trend of ongoing changes continued throughout the sample viewed,” they said. “This meant that consistency of care and support was not provided.”

The inspection report said the provider was unable to ensure that a sustainable number and “skill mix of staff” appropriate to the number of residents and their assessed needs was provided.

Separately, a Hiqa inspection of St Anne’s Centre in Co Donegal, also operated by the HSE, found it had not ensured residents were protected from “abuse and responsive measures had not been taken to address ongoing safeguarding issues in the centre”.

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The unannounced inspection took place in January and found that while the provider had a local safeguarding and protection policy in place, it required updating to ensure it was effective.

“For example, one safeguarding form showed that a resident said that they were afraid of their peer as they were called names and blamed for things that they did not do,” the report said.

“They would go to their room and request to have their meals there if required. The inspector found that the preliminary screening form and safeguarding plan was completed.

“It was submitted to the safeguarding and protection team who responded with a preliminary screening outcome sheet. However, the person in charge told the inspector that although the third stage of the process was completed; the information was not available for review in the centre on the day of inspection.

“This showed that the process was not completed in full and therefore not effective,” the inspector stated.