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Dublin: 11 °C Wednesday 19 June, 2013

HIQA publishes Standards for residential care services for people with disabilities

The Authority is looking for feedback for standards to be adopted by care centres providing residential services to people with disabilities.

Dr  Tracey Cooper
Dr Tracey Cooper
Image: Mark Stedman/Photocall Ireland

THE HEALTH INFORMATION and Quality Authority (HIQA) has launched a public consultation on standards to be adopted by care centres providing residential services to people with disabilities.

HIQA is seeking feedback on the Draft National Standards for Residential Centres for People with Disabilities from interested groups, residents and their families, and from the general public. These standards will help to form the basis on which people with disabilities living in residential care – whether operated by public, private or voluntary bodies or agencies – will gain access to the services they need.

Centres requiring to be registered will include congregated services and institutions, group homes, community houses and other types of residential services, according to HIQA.

Interested parties are invited to read the draft standards and explain whether they believe that all important areas are covered, and whether the points outlined are clear and easy to understand.

Dr Tracey Cooper, Chief Executive of HIQA, said: “People with disabilities who live in residential care centres, whether adults or children, have the right to be safe, to receive good care and support and to have access to the services they need to enable them to live a fulfilling life. These national Standards will help form the basis on which people with disabilities living in residential care can achieve these very important outcomes.”

“The Standards published today represent a revision by HIQA of previous Standards and for the first time bring together Standards for residential services for adults and for children, while at the same time reflecting the different and divergent needs of these two distinct groups. When the registration of residential centres for people with disabilities begins, the registration and inspection process will apply to both centres for children and for adults,” she added.

To take part in the consultation, please visit the HIQA website (click here) to download the draft standards.

Comments can be submitted by completing the consultation feedback form on HIQA’s website or by going to HIQA’s Facebook page or Twitter.

The final date for receipt of submissions is 5pm Wednesday 21 November 2012.

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Comments (4 Comments)

  • being disabled and disempowered in ireland is not a pretty experience nor for the faint hearted.
    i hate it, only touching 60yrs yet have the HSE deciding just about everything for my quality of life and even to the extent of coming into my home, measuring up and telling me what i ‘need’ when i absolutely know what i need!

    Reply
  • not before time!

    Reply
  • I think this is sad, really.

    Because, measures are being taken under the premise, (which exists under your ancient Irish laws

    dating from Victorian times) that human beings who are lessable, simply belong in some kind of

    “congregated services and institutions, group homes, community houses and other types of

    residential services”.

    That’s the question: ought one to prepare to make their bed in the pigsty, or ought one to question

    whether or not they are (as humans) deservéd of a world in which they are not constantly being

    berated for a “dis”-something. Or a dis-anything.

    A dis-human?

    Cute.

    I mean, even your Irish E88,ooo /per/ year diplomats stationed abroad, are not required (many simply cannot)

    speak, read, write or hear the language of the EU member-states in which they are stationed (for up to five

    years at a time: = E 440, ooo.) Ought they to be locked-up upon their arrival, by the health services in this

    Kingdom, because they are disabled in even looking up the telephone directory? Ordering a mean?

    Reading a chart?

    A road sign?

    Nice; the way such small mercies are afforded to the class-a idiot (but with a fabulous leaving certificate).

    ~):(~

    Reply
    • Well said Noel; imagine HIQA coming into your home and regulating how your privacy is maintained to a certain professional (subjective) view. Disability in Ireland has been regulated by the Lunacy Act of Victorian times and now we have decided to regulate it further. It’s weird we haven’t brought in a adult social care service where (a) people with a disability can spend the money for services outside these institutions and (b) mental capacity legislation, except what do we do? Regulate their homes from abuse! Bit of a paradox there

      Reply

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