(4) Documentation was not available to show that one adult who worked directly with children attending the service held at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications
Provider's corrective action:
(4) At the time of inspection, documentation confirming the required qualification was not available for review for one staff member who is in her second year of the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education in DCU. The service has applied to the DCEDIY Early Years Recognised Qualifications for the letter of qualification to ensure it is filed and accessible going forward. The service received this letter. The service has implemented a standardised document control and verification process for all staff qualifications, including filing, applying for essential letters of qualification when necessary and tracking these documents. They have a qualification checklist to be carried out for each member. This will prevent recurrence of documentation being unavailable for future inspections
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(j) A sample of 20 administration of medication records were reviewed. The required information was not recorded on all the records. For example. • Two forms did not include the pre consent from the parent before staff administered the prescribed medication. • Three forms did not include a second staff member signature when medicine was administered. • One form had no staff signatures when medication was administered. • Two forms did not include the signature of the parent on collection of their child to confirm that they were made aware of the administration of medication while the child attended the service. (k) A sample of 15 accident and incidents records were reviewed. All required information was not recorded on all forms. For example. • Four forms did not include the child’s date of birth. • One form did not have the child’s surname noted. • Two forms had no staff member signature • One form had no managers signature present on the form • Two forms had no signature of parent to confirm notification to the parent of the accident • Six forms had no date of signature by a parent
Provider's corrective action:
(j) Following the inspection a staff meeting was held to discuss the results. On review of the service administration of medication records, it was concluded that the form was too complicated and needed to be simplified. Therefore, the form was reviewed, simplified and implemented ensuring each staff member was re-educated on the new form. The new form ensures accurate, clear and consistent documentation of medication administration. An audit has been organised for the end of February to check on progress of the new form to check on progress of the new form for supervision and quality assurance. A new simplified, user-friendly form was created. Training is provided to each staff member on completing this form and before management sign the form it must be thoroughly checked over to ensure all information is filled in correctly. (k) Following the inspection, a staff meeting was held to discuss the results. On review of the service accident or incident records, it was concluded that the form was also too complicated and needed to be simplified. Therefore, this form was reviewed, simplified and implemented ensuring each staff member was re-educated on the new form. The new form ensures accurate, clear and consistent documentation of accidents and incidents. An audit has been organised for the end of February to check on progress of the new form for supervision and quality assurance. A new simplified, user-friendly form was created. Training is provided to each staff member on completing this form and before management sign the form it must be thoroughly checked over to ensure all information is filled in correctly
(4) One staff member employed within the service did not have documentary evidence to confirm they held a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications. The documents presented for inspection did not have the necessary detail to confirm that the staff member held the required components completed to obtain a full award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or above on the National Framework of Qualifications
Provider's corrective action:
(4) In response to the non-compliance the registered provider has stated that on review of employee who does not hold a completed award we have taken them from adult/child ratio. All future employee’s certification will be checked in accordance with the National Framework of Qualifications. Summary Comment The registered provider has addressed the non-compliance as identified
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(j) On review of 23 administration of medication forms 11 forms were not completed to include the following. • Three forms did not include the signature of the parent consenting to the administration of the named medication. • Five administrations of medications did not include the parents/guardian’s signature on collection of their child to confirm they were made aware that their child had received medication. • One form did not include the signature of the second staff member who had checked the medication and witnessed the administration. (k) On review of 22 accident and incident records, 3 forms were not completed as per the service policy and procedures. For example. • One form did not include the date of birth of the child involved. • One form did not include the signature of the parent to confirm they were made aware of the incident. • One form did not include the manager’s signature as per the service policy
Provider's corrective action:
(j) In response to the non-compliances the service has stated that all staff members have been advised of the importance of obtaining parental signatures before or after the administration of medicine. Staff have been advised and reminded of the importance of obtaining a second staff signature who witnessed the administration of medication. While all Parents/Guardians are contacted by a phone call prior to any administration of medicines all staff have been advised of the importance of obtaining signatures upon collection of children by Parents/Guardians and the importance of receiving a witnessed staff signatory. (k) In response to the non-compliances the service has stated that all staff members have been advised of the importance of documentation and ensuring all details relating to the child have been fully written out and recorded. All Parents receive a phone call immediately after any accident or incident and all staff have been advised to ensure Parents/Guardians sign the forms upon collection. While all Parents receive a phone call after any accident and incident, we do recognise the importance of obtaining the signature of Parents upon collection. Staff have been advised and going forward this will be reviewed and the end of each day to ensure Parental & Management have signed the forms
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
Basic Needs: 1. Children in the Wobbler room spent extended time during the inspection sitting in highchairs. As outlined in the Quality Regulatory Framework children should not be placed in a highchair or other piece of equipment that constrains their movement, for longer than fifteen minutes as this reduces their freedom of movement and the ability to explore their surroundings and engage with their chosen materials and toys. For example. On one occasion 5 children spent 46 minutes in highchairs during lunch time. 2. Children from the Wobbler and Tweenie rooms were not facilitated to play outdoors on the day of inspection during their allocated garden time of 9-10am for Wobblers and 10-11am for Tweenies. Six children that left the service in the afternoon would therefore not get the opportunity to play outdoors in the afternoon. Outdoor play is an important part of each child’s social and physical development. Physical and Material environment: 3. The service did not ensure that the areas of interest and play equipment in the Wobbler room were accessible as the examples below demonstrate. This reduced the play opportunities and child-initiated play for the children. • Areas within the room lacked clearly defined spaces to enable the children to select toys and equipment. For example, equipment such as building blocks, musical instruments, plastic animals, cars, and soft toys were stored in large boxes which were too heavy for the children to lift or access and did not have any visual pictures to indicate to the children what the box contained. • Equipment such as jigsaws were stored in large boxes and were incomplete, supporting kitchen equipment was stored in a box away from the play kitchens, equipment was not grouped in themed interest areas which limited the engagement levels of the children’s play. • Items such as a play bus, farmhouse and dolls house were empty with no available props or materials available
Provider's corrective action:
1. To address the non-compliance the service has stated that children will only be seating down for 15 minutes at any given time. 2. To address the non-compliance the service has stated that going forward parents will be asked for rain and outdoor clothing to ensure children have the right clothing for all weathers. Yard times have been reviewed and changed to allow half an hour slot to all care rooms to gain more access to the yard for up to 4 times per day for each class. This will ensure all children have access to outdoor play regardless of the weather. 3. The layout of the Wobbler room has been reviewed and changed to ensure the areas of interest and play equipment are easily accessible to create play opportunities and child-initiated play. All areas have been revamped to ensure accessibility and to give children a visual. The room has been redesigned to create different areas of play. New, lower, more accessible storage units have been purchased to make the equipment more accessible to the children. All boxes have been picture labelled to give children a visual of the contents. All equipment is now grouped into defined areas of play
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. It was observed that three spray bottles of disinfectant were accessible to the children in the service. this increased the potential, risk of harm to a child. • Two bottles were stored in open cupboards in the nappy changing room used by the Wobbler and Tweenie rooms. • One bottle was stored on the floor of the toilet facility used by the Playschool and Pre School rooms. Infection Control: 2. While six children slept in the cot room the four cots and two low beds were not positioned with the recommended 50cms between them to reduce the potential risk of cross infection and ease of access for staff in the event of an emergency. 3. Throughout the service in the sanitary facilities used by the four care rooms toilet paper and paper towels were not stored in dispensers to reduce the potential risk of cross infection from persistent touching from staff and children. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. To address the non-compliance the service has stated that the presses will be locked, and the disinfectant will be safely stored. All disinfectant spray bottles have been removed from the bathroom areas. Disinfectants to be stored in the presses and the presses locked after each use in the nappy changing area. All disinfectant spray bottles have been removed from the bathroom areas. Infection Control: 2. In response the service has stated that removal of the floor beds from the sleep room to ensure 50cms between each cot has been adhered to. Floor beds have been removed from the sleep room area and are positioned within the care room for sleep time. Each cot has now the required 50cm between them. 3. Toilet and paper towels dispensers have been purchased. Toilet and paper towel dispensers have been purchased to reduce any potential risk of cross infection from persistent touching from staff and children and placed in each room, bathroom, and nappy changing area