We continue to monitor the safety and quality of care in centres for people with disabilities, and to carry out inspections where risk has been identified.
We are in regular contact with centres, undertaking quality assurance calls, and reviewing self-assessments completed by service providers. This is a resource to assist providers and their staff in reviewing their own services, and to help them to prepare for a COVID-19 outbreak.
Over the past two months, we have also been processing a high volume of applications to vary conditions of registration relating to risk management of the public health emergency. We also progressed 59 registration renewals during April and May.
Our inspectors also continue to review and follow up on information of concern that is received through our concerns helpline and information received through notifications submitted by persons in charge and providers. This information is risk assessed, and we carry out inspections in centres where risk is identified. We have engaged with public health officials and implemented their recommendations on appropriate infection control measures to minimise the risk of infection for residents, staff and for inspectors. Our inspectors have been provided with infection control training and on revised inspection processes, informed by public health advice.
In the absence of face-to-face quarterly meetings, the Provider Representative Forum, consisting of the National Federation of Voluntary Service Providers, the Disability Federation of Ireland, the Not for Profit Business Association and the HSE as the service provider, meet virtually every three weeks. These meetings are proving to be a valuable engagement for all, providing an opportunity to discuss the experiences of the sector and regulatory actions in the context of the current pandemic.