Inspection of 5 April 2024 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. An Immediate Action Notice was issued on 8 April 2024 in respect of Safety. There were no staff trained in first aid available to the children, on the day of inspection. A written reply was received in the office of the inspectorate on 8 April 2024 in response to the Immediate Action Notice which was adequate in addressing the issue.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (a) (b) One reference was missing in respect of one adult and thirteen validations were missing in respect of seven adults present in the service. (4) One adult, working directly with the children, did not hold a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at level 5 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statements were received from the registered provider;
- (a) (b) All references and validations are now on file for each adult in the service. Management will ensure that all references and validations are in place before any employee has contact with the children. (4) The adult that does not yet hold a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications is a student on placement
Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child
- (b) Five records were missing start dates. (g) One contact number was missing in respect of a child’s General Practitioner. (h) Five records were missing with regard to immunisations. (i) Five parent/guardian signatures were missing with regard to written consent in the event of an emergency
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statements were received from the registered provider;
- (b) All five records were updated with start dates. (g) The General Practitioner’s contact number was added to the file. (h) All five immunisation records have been added to the children’s files. (i) Missing consent has been completed for each of the five records. Staff will check each file on enrolment to ensure that all information is completed on each child’s pre-school record
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- BASIC NEEDS: (1) Contrary to the service’s healthy eating policy there was no breakfast or lunch available in the service. The inspector observed that children had access to their snack at 11.15 am. The service was operating on a part-time basis on the day of inspection for which the requirement is two meals and one snack. In conversation, staff stated that the service does not currently offer a breakfast posing a risk of the children running out of energy as they require to eat small amounts of food regularly throughout the day
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was received from the registered provider; (1) The service recognises the importance of mealtimes. Parents/guardians provide meals and snacks and breakfast is available, on request, from the service. Emphasis is placed on the nutritional aspects of food with mealtimes forming an intrinsic part of the children’s social day. All staff are aware of the food requirements for children who are availing of part-time and full day care in the service
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: (1) Garda vetting was available for all twelve adults. However, one adult vetting disclosure was not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI- RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. (2) The hinge on the toy box lid in the outdoor play area was broken, posing a safety risk should a child’s fingers become trapped on the hinge. (3) There were no safety catches on the fridge freezer outside the Sunshine care room, posing a risk should a child access unsafe items in the fridge. Infection Control: (4) In contrast to the service’s healthy eating policy the inspector observed that perishable food was not stored in the available fridge, posing a risk of spoiling from being left in the hallway in rubber tubs. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statements were received from the registered provider; General Safety: (1) An application for Garda Vetting was submitted and a new disclosure is now on file. (2) The hinges on the outdoor toy box have been replaced with new ones. (3) Safety catches have been attached onto the fridge. Infection Control: (4) Perishable food is stored in the fridge on arrival
Regulation 25 — First aid
- (1) There were no staff trained in first aid for children available on the day of inspection. A certificate was available to evidence that one staff member had valid First Aid Responder training completed, however this staff member was off on holidays. An Immediate Action Notice was issued on site to the registered provider with a request to submit a written response within 24 hours
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) In response to the Immediate Action Notice, issued 5 April 2024, the registered provider stated that the staff member trained as a First Aid Responder would be returning from holidays on the 9 April 2024. The staff member would be available to the children while the service is in operation. The registered provider submitted training dates provided by a facilitator that confirmed seven staff were booked for paediatric first aid training in April 2024 and three were booked for training as First Aid Responders in June 2024. A reminder has been added at the beginning of the academic year to check expiry dates of all first aid certificates
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) There was no maintenance record available for the firefighting equipment on the day of inspection
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was received from the registered provider;
- (b) The maintenance check was carried out on the firefighting equipment on the 17 April 2024. A note has been added to the diary in March of next year to remind staff to alert staff that the check has to be completed prior to the expiry date. In addition, the service has been added to the yearly service list of the maintenance company
Regulation 28 — Insurance
- It is acknowledged that the service had a certificate of insurance on file for 60 children on a part-time basis, with an expiry date recorded as 27 March 2025. However, the service is registered for full day care, posing a risk that the service is not insured for children who are availing of the full day care service
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was received from the registered provider; As of the 17 April 2024 the service is now insured for 60 children on a full day care basis
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 16.