Disabled Cork person waiting almost two years for move to new residential home

A resident in a Cork centre for adults with disabilities has been waiting since December 2023 to move to a new centre, as their current one is not suitable, as it is contributing to “safeguarding incidents and human rights restrictions”. a recent HIQA report has found.

An inspection, undertaken in June, of No1 Brooklime service, run by Brothers of Charity Services Ireland, saw the centre marked compliant in two areas, substantially compliant in three and not compliant in four.

Amongst the goals that had been identified for one resident was to move to a quieter house. During December 2023 and May 2024 inspections, it had been identified that the environment provided in their current home was not suited to meet their needs.

In response to the May 2024 inspection, the provider indicated that they would support this resident to relocate to a more suitable premises by 31 January 2025, but communication received in the months following that inspection indicated that this timeframe would not be met.

As a result, the resident continued to live in the same house, though the resident’s current environment was still not suited to their needs, which was contributing to “safeguarding incidents and human rights restrictions”.

HIQA noted: 

“The provider did have a plan to provide this resident with an alternative living environment. During the inspection day, some progress was suggested with this plan but there was a lack of clarity as to when the provider would be in a position to implement this plan.”

Communication received following the inspection suggested that the provider would respond with identified dates for the resident’s move on June 27 2025, but no such dates were provided.

The provider told HIQA after the inspection: “The provider continues to work with a local housing association who is finalising the purchase of alternative accommodation for one resident in this centre. The alternative property was first identified in Q3/2024 and due to legal and planning delays the property purchase is now to close in Q3/2025.

“The property requires rewiring, retrofitting for insulation and other works which will take up to eight months to complete. The revised relocation date is May 2026.

“This house is seen to be a good option for the resident due to its central location and it still remains the hope that the resident will just have one relocation and not have to make an interim move.”

It added that the provider continues to seek other possible options with shorter timelines to try to resolve this issue for the resident.