POOR HIQA REPORT FOR SUNBEAM RESIDENTIAL FACILITY

GREYSTONES CENTRE COMPLIANT IN JUST ONE OF 18 OUTCOMES

A Sunbeam House residential home in Greystones was found to be compliant in just one of 18 outcomes in a HIQA inspection.

In two categories there was major non-compliance. The unannounced inspection took place last April.

The inspector found appropriate measures were not in place to protect residents from being harmed and to keep people safe. Some incidents occurring within the centre were either not reported to the person in charge or reported retrospectively.

According to the report, staff members were not guided effectively and consistently in the administration of medication. Some medications did not contain the resident’s name for whom the medication was prescribed.

On the day of inspection, the three members of staff present did not have training in the administration of rescue medication despite two residents prescribed rescue medication for seizures.

Residents went out for the day with staff but when the inspector queried the procedure in relation to this, they were informed that staff forgot to sign out the rescue medication and take it with them.

The inspection covered such categories as: residents’ rights, dignity and consultation; social care needs; health and safety and risk management; safeguarding and safety; notification of incidents, healthcare needs and medication management.

The compliant category related to written tenancy agreements.

This was the second inspection of this designated centre. On the previous inspection no residents were living within the designated centre.

The inspector visited the centre, met with the four residents, the person in charge and spoke with four staff members. The inspector viewed documentation such as, care plans, support plans, recording logs, policies and procedures. Over the course of this inspection, residents communicated in their own preferred manner with the inspector. Residents allowed the inspector to observe their daily life in the centre.

The house in Greystones provides residential, day care and respite service for adults with intellectual disabilities.

The bungalow is a five-bedroom house with one bedroom used as a staff bedroom.

Safeguarding and safety was found to be in major non-compliance as incidents were not appropriately reported.

Medication management was also found to be in major non-compliance as adequate arrangements were not in place to ensure safe medication practices. Eight outcomes were found to be moderately non-compliant. One outcome was found to be compliant.

In terms of rights, dignity and consultation, the inspector noted that during the course of morning one resident entered into the bedroom of another resident while the resident was asleep in their bed, this occurred on three separate occasions. The inspector brought this to the attention of the person in charge, as this was not promoting privacy for all residents. The inspector also found another aspect of care operating in the designated centre was impacting upon the privacy and dignity of one resident. For example, staff assisted one resident to use the toilet during the night. There was no rationale or assessment in place demonstrating the need for such an intervention.

A spokesman from Sunbeam House Services had not responded to a request for comment at the time of going to press.