Inspection of 23 July 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- The registered provider did not ensure that two written and validated references were available for one adult working within the service
- The registered provider did not ensure that all reference procedures were completed prior to one adult being allowed access or contact with a child attending the preschool service
Provider's corrective action:
- (a)(b) The registered provider stated that two written references were now obtained, stating further that all team members must have validated references on file prior to commencement of work as per our policy. A checklist has been revised for employee files to include validation of references, date and by whom
- The registered provider has stated that the manager is responsible for preparing staff files prior to commencement of their work to ensure that all relevant information including validated references are included. The Assistant Manager will now double check all files prior to new employees commencing work to ensure that all relevant information including validation of references has been completed as per policy
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (j) The registered provider did not ensure that two of the ten records sampled were completed in full, the following information was missing from two records sampled. • These two records were found to be missing a parent signature. This poses a risk to parents being unaware of medication administered. • These two records were found to be missing a second staff signature; this is a variance from the service policy on medication administration
Provider's corrective action:
- (j) The service stated that the medical consent forms have been signed. Parents were notified through their app. No medication is given without contacting parents first. The paper documents will be moving to digital format when current medical books are full. Management spoke to staff about the importance of documenting signatures
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- Administration of Medication: 1. The storage and labelling of emergency medication was at variance from the service policy on medication management. The following was observed: • Medication required as part of an emergency plan was not in its original packaging and was not accompanied by the necessary administration tools or devices. This posed a potential delay in the administration of emergency medication. • Medication required as part of an emergency plan was mislabelled and not easily identifiable. This posed a potential delay in the administration of emergency medication. 2. The registered provider did not ensure that a detailed emergency medical care plan was available for one child who required emergency medication. This is at variance from the service policy on medication management which states that individual care plans must be developed with parents, service and medical professionals considering dosages and method of administration. This posed a potential risk for a child receiving appropriate emergency intervention. General Safety: 3. Garda vetting was available for seventeen adults working within the service. However, vetting disclosures for two of these adults were not dated within the previous three years in adherence to the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EY-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’ Infection Control: 4. Pedal bins were not in use within the sanitary area adjacent to the Butterfly room and in the outdoor area. This posed a potential risk for cross contamination of harmful bacteria. 5. Toilet roll was not hygienically dispensed in the sanitary area adjacent to the Butterfly room. This posed a potential risk to cross contamination. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- Administration of Medication: 1. The service has stated that the box has been disposed of and that the child no longer requires medication which was sent home with the parents. Any child with emergency medication has their own box located in their rooms, with their photo on it, inside is their emergency plan and medications. 2. The service said that one no longer has an allergy and one child’s plan was water damaged they made-up a new one, while parents provided a new one. Individual care boxes are now in use for any child with emergency medication. General Safety: 3. The registered provider has stated that all Garda vetting renewals are now up to date. The registered provider stated that the delay was caused by an issue within the Garda Vetting Bureau and an ICT issue that had prevented renewals going through. The registered provider has been assured that this issue is rectified and will not happen again. However, to avoid any future delays, employee files will be rechecked annually and any Garda vetting due for renewal will be done three months prior to expiration date, to ensure time for compliance. Infection Control: 4. The bin lid needs to be removed with changing the bin, staff have been advised to put the lid back on. A new bin has been purchased. 5. A toilet roll holder was purchased, staff have been instructed as to why it is important for hygiene reasons to ensure toilet paper is put into the dispenser. Staff have been advised that extra keys for the toilet roll dispensers will be kept in the office
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 25, 28.