Lois Bridges HIQA Management negatively impacted the capacity and capability of the centre
Name of designated centre: Le Cheile Name of provider: Stepping Stones Residential Care Limited Address of centre: Wexford Type of inspection: Announced.
Lois Bridges management that also run Stepping Stones Residential Care centre: HIQA found that poor governance had impacted on the management of risks and there were inadequate measures in place to protect against infection undermined residents’ safety and wellbeing.
Poor governance and management had been previously report by HIQA on Stepping stones Residential Care. Click Here for link and Direct link Click here current governance and management arrangements did not demonstrate effective oversight of the centre. There was no active person in charge and therefore the lines of authority and responsibility were unclear. This negatively impacted the capacity and capability of the centre, which adversely impacted residents lived experiences.
Highlights from this inspection of stepping stones care residential care management team, the same management in charge of Lois Bridges
Room was visibly unclean, droppings from pet birds and food residue visible, front gate was closed and locked using a bicycle lock, one bedroom was not in a clean, hygienic or safe, overflowing bags of used drinks containers, long fixing screws had been left on the carpet, their personal possessions which includes their finances were not accounted for, screwdrivers in a bedroom, no record maintained of these visits and these combined posed a risk to the safety of all children and young people who lived here, it was unclear what the basis for this decision was and what the risk was to restrict resident access
Interesting that management management claimed that they have highest rated mental health Centers, Centres meaning more than one but that not what HIQA said with droppings from pet birds and food residue visible Another example of dishonest advertising
Judgment: Not compliant
On arrival to the centre inspectors found that the front gate was closed and locked using a bicycle lock. The electronic closing and locking mechanism was not operational and the provider had been waiting for repair or replacement. The inspectors also found that a hatch in the wall upstairs had been removed for building works and not replaced, this had left access to the attic space accessible which was a concern in relation to potential risk and fire containment. In addition, the long fixing screws had been left on the carpet which posed significant risk as identified by the provider on their ‘sharp item’ risk assessment. The inspectors found that one bedroom was not in a clean, hygienic or safe
condition. Inspectors acknowledge that a young person or child has the right to their personal items and to have their room comfortable as per their wishes. However, inspectors found that the room was visibly unclean, droppings from pet birds and food residue visible on surfaces, a plant that had been knocked over left with soil on a table surface and overflowing bags of used drinks containers and bottles present. Furthermore sharp items were present in the room despite a risk assessment in place stating that they shouldn’t be. The person in charge had not ensured that the tasks checked as having been completed on the bedroom cleaning/checking schedule had actually been carried out.
from incidents, and there were systems for responding to emergencies. Adverse incidents were reviewed by inspectors and had been responded to appropriately. A serious incident review had been completed following serious incidents notified to the Chief Inspector via the notifications process.
Judgment: Not compliant
HIQA Disability services publication statement
Today, the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has published 26 inspection reports on designated centres for people with disabilities. HIQA inspects against the Health Act 2007 (Care and Support of Residents in Designated Centres for Persons (Children and Adults) with Disabilities) Regulations 2013 and the National Standards for Residential Services for Children and Adults with Disabilities, which apply to residential services for people with disabilities in Ireland.
Of these 26 inspections, inspectors found a generally good level of compliance with the regulations and standards in 20 centres operated by a number of providers including: Saint Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny)/trading as Aurora-Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities; St John of God Community Services CLG; St Michael’s House; Terra Glen Residential Care Services Limited; The Rehab Group; Trinity Support and Care Services Limited; and Western Care Association.
Examples of good practice observed by inspectors included:
- At a respite centre in Kerry operated by St John of God Community Services CLG, staff had recently fundraised and purchased two new go-karts for the children that used the centre and a local men’s shed had made a sandpit for the centre. These additions made for a welcoming and fun space for children visiting the centre.
- Residents at a centre operated by St Michael’s House in Dublin said that they liked living in the house and in particular, were happy with support provided by staff and especially spoke about recent holidays which they had gone on support.
- A centre operated by Western Care Association in Mayo, the building had been adapted to meet residents’ specific needs. For example, the kitchen table had been made to accommodate the residents’ wheelchairs, the front and rear of the house were accessible by wide ramps and photographs were hung at residents’ eye level.
Non-compliances that impacted on the delivery of care and support to residents were identified in six other centres.
Poor governance was identified at two centres operated by St John of God Community Services CLG. Restrictive practices and living arrangements impacted residents at one centre. At the other centre, improvements were needed in staffing, management of medications, premises and measures to protect residents against infection.
At a centre operated by Stepping Stones Residential Care Limited, poor governance had impacted on the management of risks and there were inadequate measures in place to protect against infection undermined residents’ safety and wellbeing.
Poor governance was identified at a centre operated by Resilience Healthcare Limited. Residents were impacted by poor management of safeguarding incidents and medications for residents. At a centre operated by Talbot Care Unlimited Company, improvements were needed in the management of medications for residents and meeting residents’ communications needs.
Finally, the premises of a centre operated by S O S Kilkenny CLG required improvements to meet residents’ needs.
