Dundalk disability service commended by HIQA

A Dundalk residential disability service operated by Praxis Care is providing “person-centred care” and supporting residents to live independent lives, according to a recent inspection report published by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

The unannounced inspection of Park Avenue, Dundalk, which supports four adult residents, was carried out on 16 September 2025. Overall, the centre was found to be compliant with the majority of regulations, with two areas rated as substantially compliant, relating to risk management and individual personal planning.

In its report, HIQA stated that residents were “supported to lead independent lives and made decisions about how they lived their lives on a day-to-day basis”.

Inspectors met with all residents during the visit and observed daily life in the house, which is located in the heart of Dundalk town. According to the report, “from talking to residents and staff, observing practices and reviewing feedback from residents and relatives, it was evident that residents enjoyed living here”.

Residents told inspectors that they loved living in the centre, liked the people they lived with and “really liked the staff”. One resident described Praxis Care as “a great service” and said “the staff working in the organisation are all very good”.

The report found that residents were actively involved in their local community, with some in employment, one attending college and another volunteering in a local community initiative. Inspectors noted that residents enjoyed busy social lives, including attending concerts, going to the cinema, visiting local pubs and maintaining close connections with family and friends.

The premises was described as “clean, very spacious and decorated to a good standard”, with residents having their own bedrooms and access to shared living spaces, including a large back garden and patio area which residents had been involved in designing. Each resident had their own key to their bedroom and the front door of the house.

Inspectors also observed positive interactions between staff and residents throughout the day, noting that staff were “professional with residents, kind and patient, while also having some fun and laughs with the residents”.

While the overall findings were positive, HIQA identified some minor areas requiring improvement. Under risk management, inspectors found that some risk assessments required further detail, particularly around lone working arrangements and emergency responses when residents may be alone. HIQA noted that these gaps did not pose a medium or high risk to residents at the time of inspection.

Similarly, under individual assessment and personal planning, inspectors found that while personal plans were in place, some documentation required review. In one case, an assessment identified a resident as vulnerable to financial abuse, but there were “no safeguards documented to mitigate this risk”.

Both areas were rated as substantially compliant, meaning that improvements were required to achieve full compliance.

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Praxis Care has since submitted a compliance plan to HIQA, confirming that risk assessments and personal plans were reviewed in October 2025, with further actions, including updates to lone working policies and healthcare plans, scheduled to be completed by early 2026.

Despite the minor issues identified, HIQA concluded that the service was safe, well-managed and focused on residents’ rights and independence. The report stated that “overall, the residents living in this centre were provided with a safe, quality service, focused on a person-centred approach to care”.

The centre was found compliant across a wide range of areas, including staffing, training, governance and management, safeguarding, residents’ rights, fire safety, food and nutrition, and healthcare provision.