Areas of non-compliance found at HSE centres in Donegal

The health watchdog has published six reports today which relate to HSE centres in the North West.
Ballytrim House in Raphoe had one issue of major non-compliance while two centres in Dungloe didn’t meet standards in some areas.
During the inspection at Ballytrim House, the inspector found that although residents’ epilepsy management plans had been reviewed, the majority of residents still required suitably qualified and trained staff when at the centre and engaging in community activities.
In addition, the inspector noted that staffing arrangements were affected by current vacancies and long term absences at the centre.
However, records and discussions with staff showed that the person in charge ensured that sufficient staff numbers were available to meet residents assessed needs through the use of regular temporary workers.
The inspector also reviewed a sample of staff records and found they did not contain copies of vetting disclosures as required under the Regulations.
Two residential centres were examined in Dungloe, one housing nine residents and the other housing eight, with one area of moderate non-compliance noted in each.
In the case of the nine resident unit, the inspector found that the centre’s design and layout did not meet residents’ needs in relation to privacy and suitable communal spaces.
In the case of the eight resident unit, the inspector found that while records were kept of all accidents and incidents, the provider had not ensured that all notifiable events had been reported to the Chief Inspector within regulatory time frames.