(a) One reference was not available on file for one adult and two references available on file for staff from a past employer were not validated. (d) Police vetting was not available for the one staff member that required same. Not adequately obtaining references and checking them and not obtaining police vetting staff may allow staff that are not suitable have access to the children. This is at variance with the services policy on recruitment which outlined that these processes would be completed before staff commenced in the service. (3) The Garda vetting process had not been completed for two staff whose files were assessed prior to them commencing work in the service. Not Garda vetting staff prior to them commencing in the service and having access to children may allow for staff that are not suitable have access to children. This is at variance with the services policy on recruitment which outlined that these checks would be completed before staff commenced in the service
Provider's corrective action:
(2) (a) One reference has been obtained and three references have been validated. This will be completed before staff commence in the service. (d) Police vetting for the adult that required same has been obtained. All staff will be assessed if they require police vetting prior to them commencing in the service. (3) The staff that commenced in the service prior to Garda vetting being completed commenced with paperwork prior to them having access to the children. The registered provider has committed to ensuring that no staff commence in the service without the Garda vetting process being completed
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
Infection Control: 1. Thermostatically controlled hot water was not available at the wash hand basin in the nappy changing area in the sunflower room. The temperature of the water was recorded at 17.7°C where the recommended temperature must be up to 43°C.There were two additional wash hand basins in this area of the service, one in the soft play playroom and one in the kitchen however the temperature of the water recorded in both areas was 17.8°C and 18°C. There is an increased risk of cross infection in the service when hot water is not available to facilitate effective handwashing for both adults and children. 2. Staff were observed wearing gloves and aprons while caring out nappy changing, however, on one occasion where two children were being changed, the staff member did not change their gloves or clean the nappy changing unit between these children being changed. This is at variance with the nappy changing procedure as part of the infection control policy. Not changing aprons or cleaning the nappy changing mat may increase the potential risk of cross infection between children. Administration of Medication: 3. Medication that had been prescribed by a doctor had been administered, signed for by staff and by the parents acknowledging that it had been administered however no written request for this medication to be administered was available. This was at variance with the services policy on administration of medication. Not having the correct request forms allows for mediation to be administered that may not be correct, be the correct dose or at the correct time. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
Infection Control: 1. The hot water system in the Sunflower room has been rectified by the plumber. This has been included on the checklist and will be reported to management immediately. 2. Staff have renewed their training on appropriate nappy changing practices. Administration of Medication: 3. The written request forms for medication administration are now completed and training on the administration of medication has been renewed by all staff
1. The children in the Bluebell room were placed to sleep on sleep mats, three of the six children were under the age of two years and sleep mats are not suable for this age group where they need to be provided with a cot/floor bed to ensure their safety and comfort
Provider's corrective action:
1. Four low level beds have been ordered, these will be used if required for children who no longer sleep in cots and are under 2 years of age. The notice to staff regarding the use of low-level beds indicated the beds would be used where appropriate for children under the age of 2 years and would be cleaned between uses
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A child had ‘out’ recorded after their name on the attendance book however the child was in attendance in the service (Daisy room). Not ensuring all children are signed in correctly may hinder their appropriate evacuation in the event of an emergency. 2. A care plan was not available for a child that may require administration of an emergency medication while attending the service, a medication request form had been signed but no care plan to identify when the child might require same was available to the staff for reference. Not ensuring all staff are aware of the signs and symptoms of an acute illness escalating may delay appropriate treatment being given to a child. 3. In the Poppy room there was an electric cable attached to the security system screen accessible to the children and a cable in an unsecured low-level cupboard accessible to the children posing a risk of injury to a child. 4. There were cans of air freshener, window cleaner and a bottle of antibacterial spray accessible to the children on the worktop area near the low-level sink and in an unsecured cupboard in the sanitary accommodation of the Poppy room posing a risk of injury. Infection Control: 5. The purple couch in the Daisy room was torn and exposed foam, this was not easily cleanable and therefore poses a risk of cross infection. 6. A staff member was observed to clean a child’s nose and not wash their hands or sanitise them after this. A further staff member was observed not to wash their hands between nappy changes, gloves were changed but this does not remove the need to hand wash after changing each child’s nappy. Inadequate hand washing by the staff poses a risk of cross infection for children and staff. 7. One child in one of the care rooms and four children another care room did not have their hands washed after having their nappies changed. In another care room children did not have their hands washed before their main meal Not washing the hands of the children after nappy changing poses a risk of contamination and cross infection. 8. The nappy changing unit in one of the care rooms was not observed to be cleaned between uses. This poses a risk of contamination and cross infection between the children. 9. The white shelving unit under the wall mounted first aid supplies in the Sunflower room was chipped and there was evidence of exposed porous wood, this porous wood is not easily cleaned and poses a risk of contamination and cross infection. Administration of Medication: 10. Medication consent forms were not competed for two episodes of medication administration to two children. The request to administer medication was not signed by a parent/guardian. Not ensuring medication request forms are completed may allow for a medication to be administered at the incorrect time, route or dose. This was not in keeping with the services policy on the administration of medication. Fire Safety: 11. The fire exit route at the rear of the Poppy room was blocked with old toys, this poses a risk of hindering the safe and quick exit of children and staff from this room in the event of a fire and if this exit was required. 12. Monthly fire drills were not completed with the fire drill for April 2024 not completed. Not ensuring fire drills are completed monthly may hinder the safe and fast evacuation for the children and staff in the event of a fire. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. A meeting was held with all staff and the need to ensure all children are recorded as in attendance was discussed. The registered provider has stated that the sign in books will be assessed by the management on an ongoing basis to achieve compliance. 2. The care plan has been developed in conjunction with the parents and is available to the staff in the care room. A care plan will be developed on all new children’s first day of attendance where required and the admission policy has been updated to reflect this. 3. The electric cable attached to the security system has been secured and the low-level cupboard has been secured, staff have been reminded at a staff meeting to ensure the security of the electric cables. 4. The cleaning and air freshener products are now stored out of reach of children in the Poppy room in the toilets and staff working in all rooms have been informed at a staff meeting about access to these products. Infection Control: 5. The purple couch and been repaired and the registered provider has indicated that should this repair not be sufficient the couch will be replaced. 6. The registered provider has advised that handwashing has been addressed with the staff in detail to include all ages of children to minimise cross infection. The registered provider addressed this at a staff meeting and training was completed with the staff indicating all times when hand washing is required. 7. Hand washing with the children has been addressed at a staff meeting and the registered provider has committed to ensuring this is completed at key times. 8. The registered provider addressed the need to clean nappy changing mats after each use at a staff meeting, with the registered provider committing on the corrective and preventive action form to assess this. 9. The registered provider has committed on the corrective and preventive action form that the chipped shelving has been addressed. Administration of Medication: 10. The registered provider has reviewed the process of medication administration and addressed this at the staff meeting, that all consent forms must be completed. Fire Safety: 11. The fire exit route from the rear of the Poppy room has been cleared. The registered provider has committed that this will be kept clear. 12. The registered provider has submitted evidence to state the drills had been completed but the record had not been completed and submitted additional records with the fire drills that took place on a monthly basis were recorded