David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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824. To ask the Minister for Health if he will address a matter raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to regulation of resident and family forums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9813/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The HSE supports the provision of Family Forums with The Social Care Division Intellectual Disability Residential Service, Allocated Service Framework for the Development of a Residents Forum. This frame work which was developed by the National Disability Services, Quality Improvement Team in 2017, outlines the principals and steps that need to be considered when developing a Residents Forum in residential services within an Allocated Service area. This document was widely circulated for use in residential centres. The document can also be adapted when setting up forums in other types of services, for example, day services.

HIQA’s Guidance on the assessment of fitness for designated centres (Jan 2018) states that the provider must demonstrate the governance arrangements they have in place to include a responsive quality assurance framework. Arrangements should also confirm resident and family forums,.

Current regulations do not specifically require a registered provider to have a family forum in place, nonetheless, inspectors do look to see that providers engage directly with residents and families in line with residents’ expressed wishes and consent. In doing so inspectors review:

- residents care records to ensure that residents and, where appropriate, families, are included in the required reviews of resident care plans- records of complaints received to ensure that issues raised by residents and families are addressed in a timely and appropriate fashion- how residents and families are consulted with in the preparation of the annual review of the quality and safety of resident care.

Inspectors liaise with residents to hear how they are supported to maintain family and community links based on their wishes.

Inspectors also engage with residents to discuss their experiences of living in the Centre and how the provider and staff engage with them regarding decisions on how the designated Centre operates.