Inspection of 30 September 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2) The following vetting procedures were incomplete: (a)(b) Documentary evidence of validation of 2 references was not available for 1 staff member. (d) Documentary evidence of international police vetting was not available on file for 1 staff member who had lived outside the Irish jurisdiction for a period of greater than six months
Provider's corrective action:
- The references that were not validated for one staff member have now been validated. The staff member that lived outside the Irish Jurisdiction is currently working with the embassy to acquire Police vetting. The registered provider will follow up on this and have requested it as a matter of urgency. The registered provider will ensure all references are validated in future and that all vetting processes are in place before employing in future
Regulation 10 — Policies, procedures etc. of pre-school service
- When questioned the registered provider stated that there was no policy available that included the following infection control measures: • The infection control measures for nappy changing and toileting procedures. • The specific measures for the prevention of cross contamination and infection control. • The management of perishable food
Provider's corrective action:
- The service now has a step-by-step instruction sheet on the bathroom walls for staff to follow where we have any incidents. This includes prevention of cross contamination. The staff and any new staff going forward will be briefed on these measures to avoid the risk of cross contamination in the future
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) (a) A curriculum vitae was not available on inspection for one member of staff to confirm the qualifications, experience or the requirement of international police vetting if applicable. (i) Documentary evidence of a daily staff roster was not available
Provider's corrective action:
- s All staff members now have a C.V in their staff file. The service displays a weekly staff rota on each new week
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- The Inspectorate is not assured that adequate steps have been taken to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the pre-school children attending the service based on the following observations made during the inspection: General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for 5 staff members including the registered provider. However, 1 of these vetting disclosures was not dated within the previous three years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. 2. Some of the surface temperature of the radiators in the service were hot to touch. When checked by the inspector at 11:45 the surface temperature of 2 radiators, one in the playroom and one in sanitary area beside the kitchen exceeded the maximum recommended safe surface temperature of 50 0 C. The following surface temperatures were recorded; The playroom radiator was recorded at 58.3oC and the sanitary area radiator was recorded at 62.6 0 C. These elevated temperatures went unnoticed by the staff present and it was brought to the attention of the registered provider by the inspector. 3. A number of low-level sharp corners were exposed in the playroom and outdoor areas, including low sharp corners on the shelving units in the playroom and sharp metal corners at the base of the posts in the partially covered outdoor area. These are a potential injury risk. Infection Control: 4. One staff member did not wear a disposable apron when changing a child following a toileting accident in accordance with best practice guidelines. Additionally, the staff member did not remove their used gloves after the procedure and continued to wear the used gloves to assist another child and also touched multiple surfaces/ door handles and the kettle in the kitchen area. The gloves were only removed after the toilet area was cleaned and hands were then washed. 5. The children’s lunches containing perishable items were stored in their bags on the coat hangers and not as required in a refrigerator. Fire Safety: 6. An adequate means of smoke detection was not provided in the service. The battery-operated smoke detection system in use in the service is considered inadequate. 7. The documentary evidence available indicates that the frequency of the fire drills being carried out is inadequate and not every month as is recommended under best practice guidelines
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective & Preventive Actions Garda vetting is in place and up to date for all staff members. Temperatures will be checked daily as part of our risk assessment. The protectors will be replaced when necessary. The registered provider will continue to remind staff of the changing procedures. Staff have been briefed on the changing a child procedure including the importance of disposable gloves and aprons. Staff will be reminded regularly on good infection control practice in preschool. A staff member has been assigned to place all lunches in fridge each morning. The registered provider has been in contact with a company to fit electric smoke alarms and break glass boxes at fire doors. The company have advised it will be complete in the coming weeks. The registered provider will send evidence as soon as work is complete. The service will carry out yearly fire checks, extinguishers etc and will add the service of new smoke alarms to this. Fire drills are carried out once a month in accordance with best practice. The registered provider will ensure all fire drill details are recorded each month. vetting is in place a in place and up to date for all staff members
Regulation not named in the report text
- (1) The registered provider did not notify the agency in writing of a 2nd session prior to its commencement. The 2nd session was observed in operation from 12:00 - 15:00 on the day of the inspection with 8 preschool children in attendance
Provider's corrective action:
- s A change in circumstances form has been submitted to the registration office. In future the registered provider will ensure any changes are requested within the required timeframe
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 25, 26.