Residents of a centre for people with intellectual disabilities complained of “multiple incidents of peer-to-peer verbal and physical abuse”, according to a new inspection report.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) inspection of a St Michael’s House premises known as B Middle Third in Ballygall, Co Dublin, found not all of the incidents among residents were notified to the chief inspector or the local safeguarding teams.
Inspectors found safeguarding documentation and records in the centre were not adequately maintained. Many incidents were not recorded on incident report forms, but were typed by staff and stored in a separate folder. Some of these were not signed or dated.
The inspectors concluded: “This meant that practices around incident recording and reporting were inconsistent. The impact of this was that the provider was unable to adequately assess the frequency and impact of safeguarding events. Where incidents of abuse had been reported, the provider had implemented safeguarding plans. However, these were ineffective as peer-to-peer incidents of abuse continued to occur on a regular and more frequently occurring basis.”
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There were only two residents in B Middle Third when the inspectors called. One told the inspector that they “can’t cope anymore” and that staff had done nothing about the abuse.
Despite being informed in writing in January this year about the abuse, management had, according to the inspectors, “failed to discharge their responsibility to safeguard residents”.
“The impact of this was that residents were subjected to incidences of peer-to-peer abuse which were distressing to them and impacted their rights over a prolonged period of time.”
Staff told the two residents that they would be moved, but they were not given information as to where they would go.
There has been no evidence of a wellbeing review and care plan experienced by the resident over the previous 12 months, inspectors found.
Inspectors stated an urgent review of safety procedures at the centre needed to be carried out and management agreed to that.
When asked for a comment, St Michael’s House said it “notes the findings” of the report.
“The response to the inspections, referred to in the report, was treated as an immediate priority. Compliance plans were implemented as a matter of urgency and any non-compliances noted in the reports have since been addressed,” it said.
“St Michael’s House continues to work closely with the HSE and Hiqa to ensure that high-quality, safe and effective services are provided to all our service users.”
Hiqa has published the results of 26 inspections on designated centres for people with disabilities. It found a good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 11 centres operated by a number of providers, including facilities run by St Michael’s House, St John of God, Stewarts Care Limited and the Rehab Group.
It found particular examples of good care at the St John of God facility, Lakeview Priorstate, in Co Louth, where residents were supported to lead active and fulfilling lives, and encouraged to grow their own fruit and vegetables.
Inspectors identified non-compliance in four centres run by St John of God. Two centres were required to improve their premises to enhance residents’ quality of life, while the other two centres were non-compliant with admissions and contract for the provision of services. One centre also needed to improve in terms of governance and management and protection against infection.
In five reports published on centres operated by Stewarts Care Limited, improvements were needed in relation to fire precautions, protection against infection, training and staff development, individual assessment and personal plan, and communication.
