Hiqa report finds Cork IPAS centre to be largely compliant with regulations

A Cork International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) Centre has been found to be largely compliant with regulations in a recent report from Hiqa.

Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre, located on the outskirts of Cork city, caters for families and single males and females, and at the time of inspection the centre provided accommodation to 175 residents, 50 of whom were children.

The centre consists of seven prefabricated buildings and an administration block, with the buildings owned by the State and the services provided on a contractual basis on behalf of the DCEDIY by Aramark.

The centre manager informed the inspectors that 111 (63%) of the residents had received refugee or subsidiary protection status. Due to the lack of alternative accommodation options available to residents, they were unable to avail of private accommodation options.

This same observation had been made by Hiqa in the case of three further IPAS centres, Ashbourne House in Cork city, Davis Lane Apartments in Mallow and Clonakilty Lodge, at the end of last year.

Good supports 

The inspectors found, through conversations with residents, a review of documentation, and observations made during the inspection, that the residents at Kinsale Road were receiving good supports from the staff team and service provider.

Residents expressed satisfaction with the services and assistance they received at the centre and spoke highly of the staff team, regional manager, deputy managers and centre manager.

The centre was found to be compliant in 27 areas, substantially compliant in four and not compliant in one.

The inspection found that the service was well managed on a day-to-day basis and had a committed management and staff team in place. However, some improvements were required to ensure there was effective governance and oversight of the service.

Monitoring

Key areas for improvements which were identified related to record keeping and the ongoing monitoring of service provision.

The not compliant rating was due to the centre not having a reception officer employed, but the inspector noted that they “were actively recruiting for one”.

They explained: “Residents were linked with the appropriate healthcare services within the local community by the centre manager.” 

However, they added: “A guidance manual and vulnerability assessment had not been developed to support the identification of special reception needs and to enable the reception officer to become the principal point of contact for residents, staff and management.”

The provider informed Hiqa after the inspection that a reception officer had been appointed and was at the Garda vetting and induction stage.