OVER 9,000 PEOPLE with disabilities will have their care regulated independently for the first time starting today.
From this morning, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) will take over the care of residential institutions from the HSE. This includes respite and voluntary services.
It is the first time any of these services will have been subject to independent inspection.
Phelim Quinn, Director of Regulation at the Health Information and Quality Authority, said: “This is a landmark moment for children and adults with disabilities and their family members living in Ireland. It is the first time that residential services for people with disabilities will be subject to independent scrutiny.
From now on, children and adults who use disability services and their families will know what they should expect, and service providers will know what is expected of them in delivering a person-centred, high quality and safe service.
Residential services will be inspected against the National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities, published by HIQA in May, and against relevant legislation and regulations.
Services must register with the Authority and will be inspected to ensure that all services are of a consistently high quality, regardless of which provider is running them.
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