HIQA report reveals concerning levels of non-compliance at Kilkenny facility

A recent HIQA report has revealed widespread non-compliance with multiple regulations at the Renua Centre - a Kilkenny facility identified in the report under the provider name Saint Patrick’s Centre (Kilkenny), trading as Aurora Enriching Lives, Enriching Communities.

An inspection found that regulatory standards at this centre have deteriorated since a previous unannounced visit.

The service has the capacity to provide supports to three adults over the age of eighteen with an intellectual disability and there were three residents present during the inspection, which took place on February 19, 2025.

READ NEXT: 'We can't let this continue' - Kilkenny goalkeeper pleads for lifesaving changes

Overall, the inspector was not assured that the systems for oversight were implemented in a comprehensive or robust manner both at provider and local levels. 

The HIQA report stated that a number of improvements were required in key regulations such as safeguarding, residents' rights, positive behaviour support and risk, with gaps in oversight apparent across the regulations reviewed.

On the day of the inspection, it was found that residents appeared comfortable in their home.

However, the report noted that “a number of improvements were required across key regulations to ensure that the service was safe and had a positive impact on residents' quality of life.”

SEE ALSO: Reports of wallaby on the loose in rural Kilkenny

The behaviour support plan in place at the centre ‘had been filed away for archiving and had not been updated since January 2023’, the HIQA report noted. 

This was deemed a cause of huge concern as incidents of self-injurious behaviour ‘were still occurring on a regular basis’. 

The report notes: “For example from December 5, 2024 to January 6, 2025 there were five incidents where the resident engaged in self-injurious behaviour, four of these incidents resulted in an injury or re-opening of an existing injury. 

“The inspector was not assured that the measures in place were sufficient in ensuring the residents’ safety at all times.”

Aspects of ensuring controls were in place to safeguard residents from financial abuse were also deemed ‘not robust or comprehensive for all residents that lived in the centre’.

Recently, the provider had identified that residents in the centre were not paying the correct Residential Support Services Maintenance and Accommodation (RSSMACs) charges.

Although the provider had drafted letters and other information to be communicated to residents and their representatives, this information had not been communicated in a timely manner in this designated centre. 

The change in resident charges/fees was implemented on January 1, 2025. 

At the time of inspection, there was no evidence that residents had been consulted with in this process and family representatives had only been made aware of the changes a few days prior to the inspection.

HIQA stated that ‘this was not good practice’.

READ NEXT: Kilkenny woman appointed CEO of the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland

An area where the centre was deemed compliant was staffing, whilst substantial compliance was found in training and staff development and communication.

A substantial compliance plan has since been drafted by the provider outlining the steps that they have taken/intend to take to achieve compliance in all regulated areas.

FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE