HIQA criticises Letterkenny care facility for safeguarding non-compliance

A Letterkenny-based residential care facility was criticised in a report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) for “non-compliance with safeguarding requirements.”

Fiona House, which is run by Praxis Care, provides full-time residential care for six people with an intellectual disability who are over the age of 18 years.

The designated centre was criticised by HIQA inspector Úna McDermott for the “non-compliance with safeguarding requirements and non-compliance in the submission of notifications for the attention of the Chief Inspector of Social Services.”

An announced inspection visit took place on May 20, and although the inspector judged Fiona House to be compliant, or substantially compliant, on 15 of the 17 categories judged, the designated centre was deemed not compliant with two regulations.

Regulations deemed non-compliant included Protection and Notification of Incidents. 

READ NEXT: Donegal woman to continue floristry tradition in Ballyshannon with new business

The inspector found that “statutory notifications were not submitted to the Chief Inspector of Social Services in line with the requirements of the regulation” and that the inspector had identified two occasions that were not notified to the Chief Inspector of Social Services.

Safeguarding matters which arose at the centre from March 1, 2025, were reviewed, and it was found that on two occasions, “actions required subsequent to allegations or suspicions of abuse, were not followed in line with local or national policy.”

In addition, the inspector saw that “a review of safeguarding documentation found that preliminary screening forms were not submitted to the national safeguarding and protection team and safeguarding plans were not reviewed or put in place in response to these matters, which is contrary to the provider’s policy.”

The designated centre responded to the inspector’s findings, noting that the person in charge had reviewed the incidents which were noted in the report, and had afterwards submitted a following review notification, notified the national safeguarding team, ensured all incidents and safeguarding were notified as per regulations, and ensured that safeguarding was a standing agenda item on monthly staff meetings. 

Furthermore, the Head of Operations would monitor and review all incidents in a monthly monitoring visit to ensure notifications were submitted as per regulations and within timeframes, and the registered provider’s nominated person had met with all staff, including management in the centre, and had discussed the importance of reporting all incidents and safeguarding in line with national policy.

The registered provider ensured all staff would complete enhanced safeguarding training and that their quality and governance department would complete a safeguarding audit in the centre by the end of September 2025.