Inspection of 29 January 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- There was no evidence available to show that the two references each obtained in respect of 1 staff member had been appropriately verified by the registered provider. (3) A review of documentation evidenced that some of the procedures specified under Regulation 9(2) were not carried out prior to some adults commencing employment as follows: - Six references obtained in respect of 3 adults had not been verified prior to them commencing employment in the service. (4) There was no evidence available to show that 1 of the adults working in the service held a full major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Framework for Qualifications
Provider's corrective action:
- Copies of the two verified references, which were in the Registered Provider’s home office and not on site, have been provided. The registered provider will ensure that important documents are brought from home office to the crèche in a timely manner
- The registered provider will ensure that all references are verified and checked before staff members commence working. References will be verified before staff members commence working
- The registered provider contacted QQI in relation to the staff member’s qualification, there doesn’t seem to be a record of some of the staff members modules with QQI so they have been advised to contact the college where they studied. The correspondence has also been forwarded on to the staff member to contact her college. The registered provider will ensure that there is evidence of a full major award for new staff, not component awards of modules attained
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- Infection Control: 1. Some of the nappy changing practices observed were at variance with the policy and associated procedure in place in the service and posed a risk of cross contamination as follows: - Children’s hands were not routinely washed after nappy changing. - Staff were observed re-dressing children following nappy changing wearing the soiled gloves which were used during the change. - Polythene food preparation gloves were used during nappy changes which do not provide an adequate barrier for infection control purposes and tear easily. 2. Paper towels used for hand drying in the Wobbler room were not appropriately stored in a dispenser. Staff were observed handling pieces of paper towel to give to children following hand washing having not cleaned their own hands which posed a risk of cross contamination. Safe Sleep: 3. Two children aged one year were placed to sleep on mattresses on the floor of the sleep room during the inspection where a standard cot or a floor bed with a fitted mattress is required. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- Infection Control: 1. The nappy changing policy was given to all staff members to read thoroughly and in-person demonstrations were given about correct procedure of removing gloves and the importance of washing children’s hands after nappy changing, as well as the adult’s hands. The hand washing policy was also distributed to all staff. Polythene gloves have been removed from the changing area. While the nappy changing and handwashing policies are given to new staff during induction and the process is discussed, new staff will be given an in-person demonstration, and then observed changing nappies to ensure that they are aware of the correct procedure. A one page nappy changing procedure was created to give to all staff and to display in the nappy changing areas. Only latex gloves will be purchased for nappy changing. 2. Hand towel that fits in the dispenser was purchased the day after the inspection. The registered provider will ensure that there is always a good supply of appropriate hand towel for dispensers and ensure that hand towel is stored in the dispensers and not handed to children. Safe Sleep: 3. Mattresses will not be used for children under the age of 2 years of age. The Safe Sleep policy, including the recent TUSLA safe sleep guidelines, was given to all staff to read. All staff will be informed of the importance of placing all children under 2 years of age on a floor bed or in a cot, not on a mattress
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 16, 19, 25.