An unannounced HIQA inspection of part of the Áras Attracta facility for people with learning disabilities in Mayo has found significant improvements in the lives of many residents.
The inspection includes Bungalow Three, where an RTÉ investigation found evidence of unidentified staff slapping, kicking, force-feeding and verbally abusing elderly residents late last year.
The social care watchdog's unannounced inspection last April found that, in general, residents were safe, and that significant changes to governance and management structures ensured greater monitoring and supervision of staff.
However, HIQA found major non-compliance with statutory regulations relating to upholding residents' rights and dignity and their entitlement to be consulted.
Inspectors criticised ongoing institutional practices in the centre for impinging on the quality of life of the 27 residents concerned.
They singled out practices such as the preparation of many meals in a centralised kitchen which were then delivered to the five bungalows inspected, centralised laundering of hospital linen, the use of hospital beds and the non-personalisation of many bedrooms.
The inspection report says such care practices do not respect the contribution residents can make to enhancing their daily lives and to be more involved in shaping their experiences.
The five-bungalow centre called Number Two was found to be moderately non-compliant with regulations governing social care needs; safeguarding and safety; and the workforce.
But it fully complied with rules governing health, safety and risk management; medication management and governance and management.
The HIQA report states the number and frequency of activities provided to residents was recorded by management as slowly increasing since previous inspections, the most recent of which was three months earlier in January of this year.
"However, it was noticed particularly on the first day of inspections, that most residents were in their homes with limited activity.
"The inspectors were repeatedly told this was because of the rain outside," the report says.
HIQA's January inspection found that measures to combat abuse of residents had not been consistently implemented and that medication was being used to mitigate staff issues.
It also found unclean premises and a lack of phone access for residents.
It also highlighted unsafe medication practices, and said significant improvements were needed in relation to risk management, fire safety and infection control.
However, the April inspection found that a significant number of additional staff had been recruited and had begun working in previous weeks.
It states that comprehensive training programmes had been introduced specifically around the areas of safeguarding vulnerable adults, positive behaviour support, developing person centered services and planning and the role of key workers.
"While many of the associated plans emanating from this training were in their infancy, inspectors were reassured that progress was being made and that the quality of the service provided to residents had been enhanced as a result," the report states.
