Inspection of 14 October 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (d) Police vetting was not on file in respect of 1 adult who resided outside of the jurisdiction for a period of longer than 6 consecutive months
Provider's corrective action:
- The police vetting was applied for and received
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) The following records were not maintained in writing: - (h) The children’s arrival times to the service in respect of the children present in the pre-school room. The inspector observed that 11 were present in the room at 10:30 am for which the arrival time for each child was not recorded and at 1:50 pm there were 6 children present, for which the arrival time for 3 children was not recorded. This posed a risk to the safety of the children in the event of a fire evacuation as the staff had not recorded the children present. On both occasions this was brought to the attention of the staff member who immediately completed the record. (i) The inspector observed that 2 staff members working in the creche at 2pm were not recorded in the staff roster
Provider's corrective action:
- (h) The service compiled a policy and procedure for recording children’s daily attendance, all the staff have read and signed on the said policy. The person in charge will call into each room to check the attendance books. (i) The service has compiled a policy and procedure for recording the staff roster, including the arrival and departure times and the cover for breaks. The staff have read and signed on the said policy and the person in charge will call into each room to check the records
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: Pre-school room 1. The children observed on the morning of the inspection playing in the hall had access to 4 sets of fire exit doors that were easily openable with low level push bar release openings. This included • 2 doors exited out to the carpark and the roadway, • 1 door to the outdoor play area serving the pre-school room where an unsecured gate opened out to the carpark and the roadway • 1 door opened out to an area that stored disused and broken play items posing a risk of injury to the children. These doors posed a risk of injury to the children. It was acknowledged on 18/10/’24 the person in charge furnished the inspector with a quotation in respect of alarms for each of the 4 sets of doors that will be fitted. 2. There were 2 unsecured doors at either side of the stage in the hall where children could access the stage area and storage areas posing a risk of injury to children. 3. There was an unsecured computer tower stored on the floor in the pre-school room posing a risk of injury to children. 4. Within a low-level unsecured cupboard there were plastic aprons stored posing a suffocation risk to children. 5. The grid on 1 radiator cover in the pre-school room was broken posing a risk of injury to children. 6. Within the outdoor area there was a stainless-steel wall mounted cover fitted over pipes, the cover was not secured adequately, and it was rusted with sharp edges at the bottom posing a risk of injury to children. 7. There was a wall mounted timber structure used to hang toys located in the outdoor area serving the children attending the pre-school. It had loose splinters posing a risk of injury to children. 8. There were holes in the soft matting surface posing a risk of injury to children. 9. There were plastic aprons, cleaning wipes and open plastic bags of nappies stored on low level shelving in the sanitary/nappy changing accommodation serving the creche posing a risk of injury to children. Infection Control: 10. There was no warm water provided at the wash hand basins in the children’s sanitary accommodation serving the pre-school room to enable children to effectively wash their hands after using the toilet. This posed a risk of cross infection. 11. A beaker of milk for 1 child attending the pre-school room was stored in the room for the duration of the session. On discussion with the staff the beaker was not placed in the fridge on the child’s arrival to the service. 12. The children’s crockery used at mealtimes was stored in a cupboard located in the lobby of the sanitary accommodation, the door of which was observed open posing a risk of cross infection. 13. There was an uncovered teat on a child’s bottle stored in the fridge in the creche posing a risk of cross infection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. There were 4 alarms fitted to the 4 fire exit doors. The Policy and Procedure on the use of the hall has been updated to include that the fire exit doors with the alarms in place must be turned on before the children enter the hall. 2. A key for each of the doors to lock them is now available for the staff. The Policy and Procedure for the use of the hall has been updated to include that both doors must be locked before the children enter the hall. The keys will be kept with the keys used for the playroom. 3. The computer tower has been removed and replaced with a laptop. No computer towers will be stored in the room. 4. The plastic aprons were removed to a high-level press out of the reach of the children and the staff have been informed of this. 5. The radiator cover has been replaced. Should the cover break in the future it will be replaced immediately. 6. A timber structure (painted with chalk paint, now used for children as a chalk board) was used to enclose the stainless-steel cover. 7. The timber structure was removed. 8. The areas with the holes in the outdoor matting were replaced with a suitable sealed matting. Any further holes observed will be replaced immediately. 9. The plastic aprons, bags and other plastic equipment are now stored on a high shelf. Staff are reminded that all plastics are to be stored out of the reach of the children. Infection Control: 10. The Manager of the centre was informed that no warm water was available. The children are using the sink with warm water in the playroom to wash their hands. Hand- washing signs are placed on the wall near the said sink. 11. The staff have been informed that all the children’s beakers will be placed in the fridge provided in the dining room. 12. The items have been placed in sealed plastic boxes and are now stored on a shelf in the playroom. 13. Staff will ensure that all covers for bottles are provided by the parents
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 19, 20, 22, 25, 29.