Inspection of 4 June 2024 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. The non-compliance detailed under Regulation 11(8)(a), that is outlined in the body of the report, had already been identified on 2 previous inspections that were carried out on 15 January 2019 and 27 April 2022.
Immediate action notice. The inspection focused on an examination of compliance under regulations 9,11,16,22,25,26 and 28; however, on inspection additional non-compliances which posed risks were identified under regulations 8 and 23. These findings are outlined within the relevant regulations within this report.
Regulation 8 — Notification of change in circumstances
- The service was operating outside of its approved times. On assessment of the services’ records for the 04 June 2024, it was noted that the service was in operation from 8.30am to 1.30pm, whereas the service was sanctioned by the registration office to operate from 9am onwards. The records on file demonstrated that this breach occurred up to 3 times weekly
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider replied to state they would only operate between the hours of 09:00 and 13:30 going forward, and that all staff and children would arrive from 9am onward
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- (8)(a) There was only 1 adult on the premises whilst the service was in operation between 8.30am and 9am whereas the regulations require that 2 adults are always on the premises. This non-compliance had already been identified during the 2 previous inspections dated 15 January 2019 and 27 April 2022 at which times the registered provider returned responses stating she would ensure that 2 adults were always on the premises
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider replied to state the opening time was 9am and that all staff would be onsite at this time. The service will not operate prior to 9am
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (h) Some of the services’ records assessed by the inspector during the inspection were noted not to be maintained accurately. During the service overview, the registered provider informed the inspector that 4 of the 5 adults were working between 9am and 12 mid-day and that 1 adult was working 8.30am to 1.30pm. This was the same as what the inspector was told by 4 other adults that were interviewed - they were due to finish work at 12mid-day on 04 June 2024 and that the registered provider would remain alone on the premises with 4 children between 12midday and 1.30pm. However, on assessing the records it was recorded that 2 adults would remain on the premises between 12 mid-day and 1.30pm. At 12 mid-day it was observed that 1 of the adults, that had earlier informed the inspector that she would be finishing work at 12 mid-day, remained on the premises as a second adult until 1.30pm. Also, the records demonstrated that 2 adults were on the premises between 8.30am and 9am, however when 1 of these adults was interviewed, she informed the inspector that she began work at 9am. This adult was requested by the inspector to correct the inaccurate record regarding her arrival time. It was noted that the proposed departure time of each child from the service were all carried out by 1 of the adults at 11am while the children were participating in their circle time activities. The records maintained each day were not accurately capturing the actual arrival and departure times of the children and adults to and from the premises. It was also noted that some of the records were blotchy and indistinct
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider stated that two staff now remain on site until 1:30 each day, and that rostered submitted show the correct times of staff arriving and departing
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: Garda vetting was available for 5 adults. However, a disclosure in respect of 1 adult was not dated within the 3 years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: The registered provider sought the required garda vetting disclosure and stated a regular check of garda vetting dates would be done going forward
Regulation 25 — First aid
- The adult with training in First Aid Response (FAR) had a pre-arranged appointment and left the premises between 10.40am and 11.15am, therefore no adult with FAR training was available on the premises during this time. It was acknowledged that the 1 of the 4 adults that remained on the premises had training in paediatric first aid
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider replied to state that a second staff member was due to receive FAR training in September, and that they would ensure that a FAR trained staff would remain on the premises at all times
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- A record of a fire evacuation procedure for the service which contained details in relation to the procedure to be followed in the event of a fire was not available for review by the inspector
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider wrote up a fire procedure notice whilst the inspector was carrying out the inspection and provided it to the inspector towards the end of the inspection
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 22, 28.