Towards the end of last year, Clochan Services, a designated facility for adults suffering from physical and intellectual disabilities in Co Galway, was left with no funds to supply food. Situated in a detached, four-bedroom residence on the borders of a rural town, the centre, managed by Ability West, provides full-time residential as well as respite care for a maximum of six adults.
Ability West is a big organisation employing over 600 people and running over 60 facilities in Galway county and city. However, last year, on the 6th of December, an inspection from the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) revealed that the staff of Clochan Services only had about €3 left for grocery shopping for the next day’s breakfast and dinner.
A report issued by Hiqa last Thursday revealed that the officer in charge admitted that funds contributed by the residents were utilised for bill payments and grocery shopping for the centre. A financial issue arose due to a service user not contributing financially since the previous summer, leaving the centre in a financial shortfall. Notably, this problem had been pointed out to Ability West by the officer in charge but the response was not forthcoming. Consequently, on the night of December 6th, 2023, almost no funds were available for groceries.
The officer in charge had to dig into their own pocket to buy groceries for the evening and next day’s breakfast, the authority’s report stated. The inspector from Hiqa noted that this negligence by Ability West resulted in a lack of governance that could have more profound negative repercussions on the care provision. He stressed that it was Ability West’s sole responsibility to appropriately fund the centre. The report also criticised Ability West for being aware of the issue but not responding promptly.
A report following a surprise, two-day assessment in May revealed that Hiqa deemed the provided services to be of high quality, benefiting the residents greatly. The supporting staff team was noted to be both compassionate and considerate, supporting this judgement. Furthermore, a significant enhancement was found concerning the safety and quality of care provided to occupants, especially when compared to previous inspections.
It was also observed that according residents’ finances, no negative effects were discovered. Confirmation was also received from a top-tier manager at Ability West, stating that measures had been taken to fortify the resources at the centre, ensuring there’s no reoccurrence of past issues.
From the Hiqa findings, also released on Wednesday were reports about an evaluation of another centre catering to adults with disabilities, known as St Dominic Services, which is also under Ability West’s management.
The centre, situated in a bungalow in a Co Galway town, offers both residential and respite services to a maximum of seven adults. It had faced a potential de-registration threat by Hiqa following prior examinations. Nonetheless, an inspection conducted in June demonstrated that substantial progress had been made, with the inspectors highlighting that the centre had primarily executed the compliance plan.
According to the inspectors, notable improvements were evident in the overall provision of care, with sustained enhancements visible in numerous reviewed regulations. However, they also stressed that recent physiotherapy reviews had pointed out a resident’s serious risk of sustaining personal injury from falls.