Residential disability care standards launched

[Posted: Mon 11/05/2009 by Joanne McCarthy www.irishhealth.com]

Standards outlining what is expected of residential services for people with disabilities have been published by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

The National Quality Standards outline the duties of a provider of disability services and what a person with a disability, his or her family, and the public can expect to receive from residential care services.

The standards are grouped under seven headings which address quality of life, staffing, protection, development and health, rights, the physical environment and governance and management. Taken together, they set out what a good quality service for people with disabilities should be.

“These standards promote a vision for how residential services for people with disabilities should be provided in the future. They embody the principles of enablement and possibility; they focus on what people with disabilities can do, when provided with the right support. Their publication today is a significant milestone for disability services in Ireland,” said Dr Marion Witton, chief inspector of social services.

The standards have been developed following extensive consultation with representatives of those who use the service, their families and advocates and support groups, together with those who provide and deliver the service.

According to HIQA, it is important for providers to begin implementing these standards and the Authority will be developing an online self-assessment tool and guidance to support providers in their implementation.

For more information, see http://www.hiqa.ie/functions_sh_ss_standards_residential_services_disabilities.asp.