Inspection of 10 April 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1. The provision of additional hot food portions was not made available in the Baby room. One child indicated their hunger and requested more food having eaten their portion of hot food provided. Staff advised that there were no additional portions of food available. This child was observed to be become upset. This poses a risk to children not being adequately sated. It is acknowledged that additional hot food portions were available in other rooms sampled. 2. Water was not accessible and freely available to children who were mobile in the Baby room. Posing a risk to children self-regulating thirst cues. It is acknowledged that it is supplied regularly throughout the day on a scheduled basis or when the children indicate it
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. Extra portions are always available from the kitchen, extra portions will be sent into the baby room at mealtime to eliminate staff having to request them. The centre manager will monitor additional portions at mealtimes. 2. Water is regularly offered throughout the day. The placement of a water station will be reviewed on an ongoing basis
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. On the day of inspection, the registered provider did not ensure an adequate ambient temperature was maintained between 18-22°C in the Preschool room. The following was observed in the Preschool room. • In the area nearest the library, located away from the door a temperature of 23.6°C was recorded at 14:52 • In the area nearest the doors to the outdoor area a temperature of 23.2°C was recorded at 2:54pm. It is acknowledged at this time one fan was operating and the doors to the outdoor were open to allow air to circulate. • In the area nearest the sanitary area the temperature was recorded as 23.4°C at 3:18pm • In the area nearest the door the outdoor area the temperature was recorded as 22.4°C. It is acknowledged that staff introduced a third fan and the door to the outdoor was open to allow air to circulate. Staff were observed to encourage children to remove jumpers and provided ongoing hydration. This was also a non-compliance noted in August 2024. Infection Control: 2. Effective handwashing techniques were not consistent throughout the service. For example, in Baby room • Upon return from the outdoor area handwashing was not undertaken in a timely manner. Posing a risk to younger children being exposed to harmful bacteria. • Handwashing prior to mealtime was ineffective and cumbersome. It is acknowledged that bowls with water were used to wash each child’s hands prior to mealtime but it was insufficient for effective handwashing. Administration of Medication: 3. Emergency medication which forms part of an emergency response plan was noted to be out of date. This could potentially hinder a child receiving an adequate response to medication in the event of a medical emergency. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. An 80-litre commercial air cooler was installed which has reduced and maintain room temperature. The management team will continue to monitor the room temperature in the preschool room to ensure it remains at an ambient temperature. Infection Control: 2. The handwashing policy was refreshed with all staff members, who have signed to say thy read and understood the contents. The management team will continue to do spot checks to ensure the policy is being followed. Th e maintenance team is scheduled to install a children’s level sink in the sanitary area. Administration of Medication: 3. Emergency mediation was replaced upon their return from holidays with the health care plan updated. Calendar reminders have been updated for all emergency medication to ensure it is replaced before it expires, this has been shared with the operation manger
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (1) (b) The registered provider did not ensure that the maintenance of the mains powered smoke alarms were undertaken, these were recorded as last being serviced on the 13 February 2024, this was also confirmed with management on the day of inspection. Potentially posing a risk of ineffective smoke alarms
Provider's corrective action:
- (1) (b) A full service was carried out on the fire system the following day. The management team have scheduled the next visit for 6 months’ time with the company and set reminders for subsequent visits which have been shared with the operations manager
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 16, 25.