Engagement with providers of disability services is critical to our work as a regulator. We continue to hold provider representative forum meetings, and are running a series of roadshow events with providers and persons in charge across the country next month.
The provider representative forum is made up of representatives from umbrella bodies including The National Disability Services Association, National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers, the HSE and the Disability Federation of Ireland, along with HIQA’s Deputy Chief Inspector and the National Operation. The forum meets bi-monthly and a range of items are discussed and information shared. Items which are raised, by the representatives, are discussed and considered and can result in positive changes for all parties.
For example, recently, the forum discussed the NFO2A regulatory notice, which notifies us of suspected or confirmed incidence of COVID-19 in their designated centre. We listened to the issues that were raised and a number of our reporting requirements were amended to both reflect the most up-to-date Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidelines, but also to minimise the administrative burden it was placing on providers while not losing sight of the importance to continue the reporting of confirmed outbreaks of COVID-19.
Outside of our monitoring and registration-related activity, we are holding in-person Provider Roadshows in November. The title of this year’s events is The Impact of Good Governance – Finding the “Rights” approach.
The Provider Roadshows offer the opportunity to engage with providers, persons in charge and people participating in management of centres outside of the monitoring process and share valuable information. It also gives providers the opportunity to raise any questions that they may have on key topics, such as governance and management, human rights and infection control. This year, we are delighted to be in a position to resume our face-to-face Provider Roadshows which will be held over four dates in Cork, Galway, Dublin and Cavan. We look forward to seeing and speaking with attendees in the coming weeks.