Co Kildare centre for men with disabilities shows major 'non-compliance' with HIQA report
The latest HIQA report reveals a Co Kildare centre of men with disabilities has shown major non-compliance with the required staff to service user ratio.
Chapel View as visited by Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) inspectors a number of times.
Inspectors were provided with the hours that each resident was due to be provided with individual supports i.e the support of one or two members of staff.
But inspectors observed that the assessments of residents’ needs differed from this information. The report cites a case of a resident who was due to be provided with the support of two staff during the day and one to one staff at night.
In practice, the inspectors observed the resident to be supported with one to one staffing for four hours during the day.
When inspectors queried where the second staff was they were informed that they were supporting another resident to go to the cinema.
Inspectors also spent time with four residents for approximately 90 minutes. At this time
the four residents exited and entered the room. The assessed needs of all the residents
combined stated that there was a requirement for a total of four staff however there was only one staff present.
Inspectors also observed residents who were assessed as requiring supervision of staff when other residents were present to be unsupervised for periods of up to thirty minutes.
An unwitnessed assault had also occurred in the centre, despite both residents involved requiring the support of 1:1 staffing levels.
The provision of high staffing levels was identified as a safeguarding measure in response to allegations and suspicions of abuse.
A sample of rosters and staff confirmed that there was also a one hour period in the evening in which there were three staff on duty. However, considering the needs of the residents, this number of staffing did not ensure that all residents could receive the support that they required at that time.
A review of records also demonstrated that staff were not clear on the clinical presentation of a resident when providing the information to their GP.
The clinical observations for the resident on the previous day recorded that the resident had low blood pressure. However the GP was informed that the resident's blood pressure on the
previous day may have been high.
Inspectors observed a mealtime and found it to be a pleasant experience. Residents stated that they were happy with the food provided in the centre and spoke particularly
positively regarding the cooking skills of one member of staff. The meals for the week were displayed in the dining room and residents were aware of what was for dinner.
Residents also assisted staff with the weekly shopping. There were sufficient staff available to support residents at mealtimes.
Inspectors found that residents had end of life care plans in place.
The report acknowledged that each resident's wellbeing and welfare is maintained by a high standard of evidence based care and support.
Inspectors observed practice and found that staff engaged with residents in a dignified and respectful manner.
However inspectors found that staff resources were not organized in a way to meet the assessed needs of residents.