Camphill Communities says it’s responding “promptly and robustly” to issues raised by HIQA at its Ballybay centre.
The health watchdog said the centre was found to have a “fundamental failure to comply” with a number of regulations, when an inspection was carried out in August.
The report said that while residents noted they enjoyed living in the centre, the service provider had failed to ensure that an effective governance system was in place.
This included a lack of financial controls that meant some residents were being overcharged in contributions, and “an abundance of evidence” that the provider failed to ensure there were sufficient oversight and monitoring.
There were also issues that the person in charge hadn’t the correct certifications, and despite Covid-19 measures being in place, staff were witnessed asking residents to high-five and not sanitising after.
In a statement to Shannonside Northern Sound after the publication of the report, CEO of Camphill Communities of Ireland, Ann Sheehan said a number of key steps have been taking since the inspection was carried out, to bring it in line with regulatory requirements.
These include changes in areas of Staffing, of the Persons in Charge, Governance and management, contracts of care, notification of incidents, written policies and procedures and protection against infection.
Ann Sheehan said the issues highlighted in Ballybay relate to Camphill’s ongoing journey of moving from a volunteer-led model of service, and to a centralised model of management.
She concluded that the issues identified by the health watchdog capture some of the issues they are addressing as part of this transition.
