HIQA HAS REQUESTED that no new admissions be made to an unnamed centre for adults with intellectual disabilities in Cork after inspectors raised serious concerns following an unannounced visit last November.
Issues ranged from unclean premises, a lack of adequate care plans, and residents ‘regularly assaulting each other’.
The latter was due to inadequate staffing arrangements, the report read.
‘Abusive nature’
“Inspectors found that staff demonstrated a poor understanding and poor recognition of the abusive nature of residents physically assaulting other residents,” it said.
Furthermore a review of incident records indicated that residents regularly sustained minor injuries following assaults by other residents.”
There was also a case of a resident being restrained for a routine blood test.
The centre comprised of eight houses and residential services were provided for up to a maximum capacity of 41 adults, with the majority of residents experiencing a ‘significant intellectual disability’.
The Hiqa report also notes that residents “were not always provided with the appropriate emotional, behavioural and therapeutic supports that promoted a positive approach to behaviours that challenged”.
A number of areas including toilets and floors were ‘visibly unclean’, with some facilities in a poor state of repair.
‘Foul odour’
Some mattresses were found to be in ‘poor condition’ – “for example, inspectors noted that one bed mattress had a large brown stain and noted that there was a foul odour emanating from another mattress”.
The Cope Foundation, who runs the centre, has committed to a range of reforms, including a full review of care plans, new maintenance plans, more contract cleaning, and an updated risk register.
“A protocol on protecting persons from physical assault is currently being disseminated,” the centre said in a response to Hiqa.
Originally published 5.04pm
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