HIQA report on local IPAS centre shows lack of incident reporting
The inspection was carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).
A recent report published on an IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Service) centre in Waterford has revealed an issue with the reporting of incidents on the premises.
The report, published by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), was to establish how the centre adhered to the National Standards for accommodation offered to people in the protection process (2019).The report found that Viking House in Waterford City was deemed Complaint across fifteen standards, Substantially Compliant in nine standards, Partially Compliant in three standards and Non-Compliant in one.
Viking House was inspected over two days in November 2024 and had 96 residents at the time of inspection. The centre manager reports to the director of services and the centre is staffed by a director of operations, reception officer, night porters, general support staff and cleaning staff.
HIQA inspectors spoke with staff and residents about the services in the centre, and how they experienced it. Residents spoke of receiving a good standard of care and support and spoke highly of the staff.
However, inspectors highlighted need for improvement especially in terms of monitoring services. The report stated: 'The inspectors identified areas for improvement, particularly in relation to establishing internal processes for the oversight and monitoring of the service, and developing systems to facilitate increased service user consultation and engagement.'
Inspectors found that some residents had received refugee status but were unable to move out of the centre due to lack of accommodation. The report read: 'While the centre provided accommodation to people seeking international protection, the inspectors found that some of the residents had received refugee or subsidiary protection status and had received notice to seek private accommodation outside of the centre. Due to the lack of alternative accommodation available this was not always possible.'
The centre was reported to be generally well-managed: 'The day-to-day management of the centre by the manager was undertaken to a very good standard.
'As part of the management team there was a reception officer available to support residents, however, some residents were not aware that this support was available to them.'
There was a system for reporting incidents: 'However, while these systems were under development, the inspectors found that incidents had not been reviewed for learning or skills development to empower staff to manage incidents and prevent their reoccurrence.'
The report later surmised: 'There was a system in place to record all incidents and serious events which occurred in the centre. However, the inspectors found four incidents which had not been notified to HIQA as per the requirements of the centre policy and the regulations.'
