Inspection of 28 April 2026 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. The inspection focused on an examination of compliance under regulations 9, 11,19,23,25 and 28; however, on inspection additional non-compliance which posed a risk was identified under
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- In variance with the services own recruitment policy, which outlines the correct vetting procedures to be carried out before a person is appointed in the service, the following vetting information was not available: 1. Five references contained no evidence of validation. 2. There were no references on file for two adults. 3. One reference was not available for one adult
- The above procedures were not carried out before five adults were appointed, assigned or allowed access in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. The five references identified during inspection have now been validated. The date, method of validation, name of the person who validated the reference, and outcome have been recorded on each relevant staff file. 2. Two written references have now been obtained for each of the two adults identified during inspection. The references have been validated where required and placed on the relevant staff files. 3. The missing reference has now been obtained, validated where required, and placed on the adult’s staff file. (3) The registered provider will ensure that the full recruitment process is completed before any adult is appointed, assigned or allowed access to the service. A start-date approval section has been added to the recruitment checklist, requiring management sign-off before the adult commences. The registered provider will complete a staff file audit before any new adult begins work or has access to the service. The person will not commence until the required references have been received, checked, validated and recorded. A pre-employment checklist will be used for all future appointments to ensure that references are received and validated before any adult is appointed, assigned or permitted access to the service
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: • In the nappy changing area, an unplugged Iron was placed on the sink, posing a risk of injury to a child. Infection Control: • In the nappy changing area, a hand operated bin was available for the disposal of waste. Pedal operated bins are required to prevent cross contamination. • In the adult sanitary accommodation, a swing top bin was available for the disposal of waste, a foot operated pedal bin is required. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. The iron was removed immediately during the inspection and placed in an area inaccessible to children. The nappy changing area was checked to ensure there were no further hazards present. Infection Control: 2&3. The hand-operated bin in the nappy changing area and the swing-top bin in the adult sanitary accommodation have been replaced with foot-operated pedal bins. All waste bins used in nappy changing areas, sanitary areas and hygiene-related areas will be foot-operated pedal bins. Any unsuitable / malfunctioning bin identified during daily checks will be replaced immediately
Regulation 24 — Checking in and out and record of attendance
- The registered provider did not ensure that visitors to the service were required to sign in. On the morning of the inspection, two visitors attended the service to carry out repairs in the kitchen area and were not asked to sign in
Provider's corrective action:
- Staff have been reminded that all visitors must sign in on arrival and sign out when leaving the service. The visitor sign-in process is managed through the software application and staff have been instructed to ensure this process is followed for all visitors, including contractors and repair personnel
Regulation 25 — First aid
- A first aid box was available in the setting however all of wound dressings and had expired in May 2024
Provider's corrective action:
- The expired wound dressings were removed from the first aid box and replaced with a new first aid refill pack. The first aid box was checked to ensure all remaining items are in date and suitable for use. A first aid box checklist has been introduced
Regulation not named in the report text
- (1) The service was found to be operating outside of its registered status. 1. On arrival to the service, the inspector was informed the named person in charge is not currently working in the service. The registered provider did not inform Tusla of a change to the person in charge. 2. The service is registered to operate from 09:00 to 17:30. On the day of inspection, the registered provider informed the inspector that the service is open from 08:30 to 17:30 each day. The register provider was informed of the requirement to notify the early years inspectorate of any proposed change before the proposed change would take effect
Provider's corrective action:
- 1 & 2. The registered provider submitted a Change in Circumstances application to Tusla in relation to the service operating hours. Confirmation of approval has been received, and the service registration records have been updated to reflect the approved operating hours. A Regulation 8 Compliance Checklist has been introduced. Where notification or approval is required, the relevant Tusla notification or Change in Circumstances application will be submitted and confirmation retained on file before the change takes effect
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 28.