RESIDENTS OF A disability support service in Dublin were asked to pay towards the cost of kettles, curtains, toasters and televisions, an inspection has found.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report found that 16 residents of a Daughters of Charity Disability Support Service in Clonsilla, Dublin 15, were required to pay a fixed sum into an “accessories money” fund.
According to the report, this money was then used to pay “for household items such as kettles, toasters, televisions and curtains”.
“This ‘accessories payment’ was recorded within the individuals’ personal records and if not needed for household expenditure would be used by the resident. There was also a policy in place to guide all staff and persons in charge in relation to this practice called the ‘procedure for managing service users’ monies.
“This policy instructed staff to request a specified sum per resident each month and that the ‘accessories requisition sheet should be used for any items required for each house e.g. household items, small items of equipment, accessories, bed clothes, general items etc’.”
The report says that this policy “directly contradicted” guidance from regulators.
As well as paying for accessories, residents were expected to pay for staff meals while on outings and on holidays.
A later inspection found that residents were being checked on every 30 minutes, an invasion of privacy.
In a June inspection, HIQA noted some improvements and reviewed a plan to refurbish the units.
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