The authority regulates residential and respite services for children and adults with disabilities. This power was formally granted to the Irish Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) in November 2013. Regulations were used to manage it in the first year, and then on an outcomes-based strategy.

Many disability services found it quite challenging to adhere to the regulations and standards. To address this, the Social Care and Quality Improvement Divisions of the HSE launched an effort that resulted in the creation of a support programme to help workers in HSE residential services.

This intended to change their working methods and improve the service provided to people with disabilities, achieving compliance with the national Standards for residential services for children and adults with disabilities. A toolbox was created and is now being distributed to all HSE residential services, as well as nonstatutory service providers. It debuted in December 2015 and was updated in August 2016.

The Quality Improvement team's toolbox includes a variety of resources, both digital and hard copy, to assist residential services in implementing best practices and improving the delivery of quality, safe services. It includes HIQA's tools, guides, policies, templates, and links to online resources from HIQA, the HSE, and other national bodies where applicable, and is aligned with the 18 outcomes on which HIQA inspects services against regulations and standards.

The goal is to: Evaluate the implementation of care standards; Participate with service users, advocates, and staff in service planning improvements; Use national and local resources as needed to implement the necessary changes; Set up a clear plan to address any shortcomings in the standard of care; Work with the service to identify and implement improvements that will foster a culture of safety service with kindness and compassion.