HIQA identifies many risks to safety of residents with disabilities in Donegal centre

 

The Health watchdog has issued another worrying report about a designated centre for people with disabilities in Donegal.
This was the second inspection of the  Drumboe unit, a community house in Stranorlar.
The findings of this inspection identified significant risks to the safety and welfare of residents in the centre.
Inspectors identified serious allegations of abuse that had not been appropriately reported to management or when reported, had not been properly investigated in accordance with national safeguarding policies or procedures.
This resulted in vulnerable residents not being adequately safeguarded and in one instance when they reported an allegation of abuse they were adversely affected by having their respite services changed.
Inspectors also found serious failings in the governance and management of this centre which impacted on the quality and safety of care provided to residents.
There was limited evidence of on-going audits to inform and support decisions in regards to risk management.
Six-monthly unannounced visits and an annual review by the provider had not been carried out.
There were no arrangements in place to support, develop and performance manage staff and gaps were identified in the mandatory training provided to staff in regards to the management of behaviour that challenges and the protection of vulnerable adults.
Major non compliances were identified in eleven of the eighteen outcomes inspected in relation to residents’ rights, dignity and consultation, communication, family and personal relationships, admissions and contracts for the provision of services, social care delivery, safe and suitable premises, health and safety and risk management, safeguarding and safety, notifications of incidents, governance and management and staffing.
During the inspection, the findings were shared with the person in charge, the provider nominee and the Intellectual Disability Services Manager.
The provider was required to take immediate action in response to the serious safeguarding and risk issues identified on inspection.
The inspector manager requested that three monthly reviews be completed of this centre due to the serious risk and identified in the centre.