(2) (d) Police vetting was not available for one adult who had lived outside the state for a continuous period of over six months
Provider's corrective action:
The staff member made contact with the embassy of country in which they lived for a period of time, as it was 30 years ago, up to date documentation was not available. In future, we will discuss with staff all details of their C.V prior to they commencing employment
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28.
(2)(d) There were 2 adults working in the service that did not have Police vetting disclosures available for when they lived outside the jurisdiction of a period of over 6 months. One adult had lived in 3 different countries, so therefore required police vetting disclosure for all 3 jurisdictions and the 2nd adult had only lived in 1 other jurisdiction
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following in their reply: Corrective and Preventive Action The required police vetting is now in place and all staff will have required vetting prior to starting employment
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
(8)(a) The staff roster of the service indicated that there was only 1 adult rostered to be on the premises from 7.30 to 8 am each day. There were 3 staff rostered to start work at 8:00am each day . A registered provider of a full day service must ensure that there are at least 2 adults on the premises at all times during the operational hours of the service
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following in their reply: Corrective and Preventive Action The staff roster was amended to ensure that 2 staff members are in the premises at all times
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
BASIC NEEDS: 1. In the Footsteps room, while children sat for their dinner together, they did not all eat at the same time. Children had to wait for their dinner to be heated in a microwave and it was observed that dinner began at 1pm and some children were still waiting for their food to be heated at 1.30pm. 2. Crockery and plates were not provided in the next steps playroom at the morning snack time
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following in their reply: Corrective and Preventive Action 1. Staff begin the reheating process while children are preparing for lunch, (handwashing etc) which ensures the reheating procedures are adhered to in a more-timely manner and the children get to eat their lunch together. 2. Crockery and plates are available to the children for all snack and meal times
Regulation 22 — Food and drink
The main hot meal of the day was supplied by the parents / guardians. The food given to the children attending the Footsteps playroom was at variance with the healthy eating policy that was available in the service. Seven of fourteen meals given to the children in the Footsteps rooms as their main meal of the day consisted of 3 plates of plain pasta, 2 plates of pasta with chopped up hot dogs and 2 plates of 2 plain chicken nuggets, which was in variance which was requested by the service from the parents in a letter that was issued to the parents on the 30/11/2023, which stated “going forward for the preschool we need your child to have a varied nutritional lunch which includes a serving of protein, carbohydrates, fruit or vegetables ,fibre and dairy .” The service did not offer a substitute for these meals. The registered provider did not ensure that adequate, suitable and nutritious and varies food was available to each child attending the service. This was also highlighted in the pervious inspection dated the 10/11/2024, and the registered provider stated in their response “In the event where a child does not have a meal, a healthy alternative will be provided by the service
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following in their reply Corrective and Preventive Action A daily checklist will be introduced on reopening on the 26/08/2024 which will ensure that children have the required food provided. If the correct food requirements are not met and if parents cannot drop the appropriate meal, we have arranged with our local supplier that they will provide the required healthy and nutritional food each day
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety 1. Children attending the First steps playroom were not offered appropriate seating for eating and drinking. Children over the age of 12 months were observed sitting in highchairs, when they appeared to be developmentally ready to sit on chairs with backs and able to rest their feet on the floor. Infection Control: 2. It was observed that the adults in the First steps playroom did not have separate sanitary accommodation. Both staff and children used the sanitary accommodation adjacent to the first steps playroom . Nappy changing also took place in this space as there was a nappy changing unit also located here. This posed the risk of cross infection. There was only one nappy changing unit in place at the previous inspection dated the 10/11/2024. 3. The nappy changing practice observed on the day of inspection was invariance with the service policy. Of the 3 nappy changing procedures observed ,1 of the 3 adults did not wash a child’s hands prior to and after nappy changing. 4. A self-sealing , leak proof, foot pedalled bin was not available in 1 of the nappy changing areas thus posing a risk of cross infection. 5. It was observed at nappy changing that used nappies were place in nappy bags. These bags were not disposed of immediately but were left on top of the self-sealing bin which may present as a risk of cross infection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The registered provider stated the following their reply:
Provider's corrective action:
1. A new appropriate table and chairs have replaced the highchairs in the Firststeps room for children who are developmentally ready to sit on chairs with backs and able to rest their feet on the floor. Infection Control: 2. Staff in the Firststeps room will now use separate sanitary accommodation to the children. Staff toilets are located in the main school building. 3. All staff have been retrained on our policy and procedures regarding nappy changing and infection control. 4. A self- sealing and leak proof nappy bin is now available in both nappy changing areas. 5. Staff have been retrained on the correct nappy changing and cross infection procedures to ensure that nappies are disposed of immediately and safely in the self-sealing bin provided
Inspection of 15 November 2023 — Inspection Report
(2)(a)(b) Two validated references from past employers or a reputable were not available on file for 2 students that were on placement. A second validated references from past employers or a reputable were not available on file for 1 student that was on placement. (4) One adult who worked directly with the children in the service could not provide evidence that they had acquired appropriate qualification in Early Childhood Care and Education to a minimum of a level 5
Provider's corrective action:
The register provider stated the following in their reply: Corrective and Preventive Action All staff files have been checked to ensure that validated references, copy of qualifications/DCEDIY eligibility letter for practice) are held on file in respect of all adults and students working in the service. Staff files will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure that the required documents are held on file
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
1. Children were not offered a plate to eat their snack or hot meal from. The children in the footprints room and the next steps room were observed eating their main meal from their lunch boxes or the food containers that the staff member had used to reheat the lunches in the microwave. The crockery used was not suitable for the children’s age or development. 2. Children’s need for sleep was not meet in the First Steps room, Next step room and the Footprints room on the day of inspection. The service did not provide for the children’s comfort and need for sleep, rest and relaxation. - First Steps room: At 11:00am. A young child (less than 18 months) was observed asleep in the buggy in the outdoor play area. This was at variance to the service safe sleep policy. The staff were asked to put the child down to sleep in the sleep room attached to the playroom. A buggy is prohibited to be used for sleep in a child service as it poses a risk to safety of children while sleeping. - Footprints room: A child aged (over 2 years) was observed to fall asleep in the arms of a staff member during lunch time. On instructions from the inspector the child was put down to sleep. A stackable bed was put down in the cosy corner of the room, which was not ideal as the other children in the room wanted to use this space. - Next step playroom: Two children (aged over 2years) were put down to sleep on stackable beds during lunch time. One child was observed to sleep, the other child was distracted and was unable to rest ,as the area was not quiet as the rest of the children in the playroom were eating their lunches and playing and exploring the playroom during this time
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following in their reply: Corrective and Preventive Action 1. Appropriate crockery is available and offered to all children at mealtimes . 2. Buggies will not be used for children to sleep in when attending the service. The appropriate sleep equipment and provision for sleep is in place for infants and children. The service will ensure that the dedicated time for sleep and rest for over 2 years is scheduled during a quiet time within routine; before lunch time
Regulation 22 — Food and drink
Adequate quantities of suitable nutritious and varied food was not available to the children attending the service on a full day care basis. All food served in the premises was supplied by the parents of the children attending the service. This was at variance to Footsteps Preschool healthy eating policy which stated that the registered provider ensured that all food served will be nutritious and suitable. 1. Some children attending on a full day care were not provided with at least 2 meals,2 snacks, one of which must be a hot meal. Some children were not offered a hot meal and only offered a sandwich. 2. One child did not have a meal and the only alternative offered by the service were plain crackers. A healthy alternative was not offered
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated the following in their reply: Corrective and Preventive Action 1. All children who are attending over the 5 hours will receive a nutritional hot meal in suitable and age- appropriate crockery. 2. All meals for children are now checked in the morning to ensure that each child has a healthy meal provided, including a hot meal for the children attending over 5 hours . In the event where a child does not have a meal, a healthy alternative will be provided by the service. Healthy policy has been reviewed to include an information letter to parents about the importance of providing healthy meals and also the need to provide a hot meal for children attending over 5 hours