Inspection of 17 February 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2) (a) Two references were not on file for one adult who was working in the service. (2) (d) 1. Police vetting from outside the jurisdiction of Ireland was not available in respect of two adults who required it. 2. There was no Curriculum Vitae on file for two adults, therefore the inspector was not able to determine if Police vetting was required for them. (4) Two adults working directly with the children attending the service had no record of at least a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at Level 5 or above on the National Qualifications Framework or a qualification deemed by the Minister to be equivalent on file
Provider's corrective action:
- (2) (a) The registered provider submitted the two validated references required, assuring regular file checks will be completed going forward. (2) (d) 1. Police vetting for one adult was submitted. 2. Two Curriculum Vitae were submitted determining no police vetting was required. Registered provider ensured full vetting will be acquired prior to new staff starting in the service
Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child
- 1. There was no enrolment form for 2 children attending the service
- (e + h) There was 1 enrolment form that did not have details of authorisation for collection of the child and did not have a record of immunisations on file. (h) There was 1 enrolment form that did have records of immunisations on file
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. The registered provider submitted the 2 enrolment forms required. Enrolment forms will be collected and reviewed prior to children attending the service in the future
- (e + h) The registered provider submitted the enrolment form with all the up to date details including immunisations and authorisation to collect completed on the form. These will be fully completed prior to child beginning in the service. (h) The enrolment form has been updated to include the record of immunisations
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- 1. Children’s attendance records from September 2024 to 07/02/2025 were not available on day of inspection. Not keeping a record of children’s attendance poses a safety risk in the service. 2. Staff attendance records from 06/01/2025 to 29/01/2025 were not available to inspection. It was unable to ensure staff ratios were being maintained without a record of staff attendance
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. The registered provider purchased a new attendance record book and submitted completed children’s previous attendance records. Staff will ensure children will be recorded on arrival and on departure in the service. 2. Staff attendance records are being maintained in a new record book. Weekly staff rotas will be printed out going forward
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- Basic Needs The children were not adequately supported to rest and sleep on the soft matting and the stackable bed in the allocated space in the playroom during the afternoon of the inspection. A staff member did not stay with the children to settle them down to rest/sleep. The children were observed moving between matting and the stackable bed, taking toys from each other which caused some children to become upset
Provider's corrective action:
- An area of the playroom will be sectioned off for the rest/sleep period, the correct space will be allocated between the beds, and an allocated staff member will be supervising the children at all times. There will be 10-minute checks conducted and recorded
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. In the playroom, there was an unsecured ventilation unit with a dangling cable stored on a low-level shelving unit used for storing toys, posing a risk of injury to children. 2. During the inspection the fire exit door leading to the outdoor area was observed open for a period of time, as it was not secured it swung freely posing a risk of injury to children. 3. A child seated in a low-level feeding chair at the mealtime was observed moving around the floor using their feet, posing a risk of injury. 4. There was 1 piece of the waistband missing on a low-level feeding chair posing a risk of injury to children when not secured in the chair. 5. The temperature of the warm water at the sink located at the nappy changing unit exceeded a safe temperature for hand washing for children The temperature of the water was recorded at 45.4 degrees Celsius posing a risk of scalding. 6. There was a sleep monitor with a dangling cable attached on a shelf located over 1 cot, it was within a child’s reach posing a risk of injury. 7. There was linen stored on a shelf located over 1 cot, it was within a child’s reach posing a suffocation risk to children. 8. The seat on the children’s low-level toilet was loose posing a risk of injury to children. 9. The tuff tray located in the outdoor play area was cracked posing a risk of injury to children. Infection Control: 10. During the afternoon children were observed resting/ sleeping on soft matting and on 1 stackable bed in an allocated area near the book corner in the playroom. The mats and bed were not positioned 50 cm apart from each other on all sides for infection control. 11. The inspector was informed by staff of the sterilisation procedures for soothers, it was to pour boiled water from the kettle over the soothers. The procedures for sterilising soothers were inadequate posing a risk of the spread of infection. 12. During the inspection, staff were observed to wear their apron and gloves while returning to the playroom via 2 doors after changing children’s nappies posing a risk of the spread of infection. 13. The practice of children washing their hands after nappy changing was not observed on inspection and this was confirmed on speaking to staff about the nappy changing procedure. 14. An unlidded bin was in use in the children’s toilet cubicle instead of a lidded, foot operated bin, posing a risk of the spread of infection. 15. There were 2 cloth mattresses and 2 waterproof mattress protectors in use in the 2 standard cots provided in the sleep room. The inspectors were informed that the cots are used by different children, as there were only 2 waterproof mattress protectors on the premises then each child did not have their own waterproof mattress protector posing a risk of cross contamination and cross infection. 16. A low-level section of the wall near the fire exit door was unclean posing a risk of the spread of infection. 17. There were sections of the skirting boards with paint chipped off making it difficult to clean adequately posing a risk of the spread of infection. 18. Cleaning records reviewed in the main playroom, sleep room and sanitary facilities on day of inspection were not completed since 07/02/2025. These records were completed by staff up to this date. Safe Sleep: 19. During the afternoon, there was no record of sleep checks maintained for the children sleeping in the playroom posing a risk of injury to children. 20. There were no sleep plans drawn up by the registered provider for the children aged under 24 months not sleeping in a standard cot in collaboration with the children’s parents. The plans are to support an agreed approach in supporting sleep provision for these children. 21. There were 2 standard cots provided in the service. The sleep and rest provisions for the 5 children aged under 24 months attending the service were not adequate. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. The ventilation unit was removed. 2. The door is used for children to enter and exit to the playground. A hook was place on the door to hold the door open. Staff will supervise children whilst entering and exiting at all times. 3. The child that was using the low sized seat is now eating all snacks and meals seated in one of the new highchairs purchased. 4. This chair has been replaced. There was a total of 3 new high feeding chairs purchased. The service is in the process of drawing up a risk assessment for all equipment in the playroom. 5. A new thermostatic controlled mixing valve was fitted to the sink. A probe to check the water temperature will be purchased, and the water temperature will be checked and recorded daily. 6. The sleep monitor cable was placed securely out of reach of children. The registered provider will monitor all cables and ensure they are covered correctly and safely out of reach of children. 7. New storage boxes were purchased to store the linen and they have been placed out of reach of children. 8. The toilet seat was repaired and secured. 9. The broken tuff tray was removed from the service. All staff will ensure broken equipment will be disposed of. Infection Control: 10. The staff member allocated to supervising sleeping/resting children will ensure that the beds are placed 50cm apart using a measuring tape. Sleep checks will be recorded every 10minutes. 11. A steriliser was purchased, and the steriliser procedure was completed. The procedure is displayed next to the steriliser machine for all staff to follow. 12. All staff were retrained in the correct nappy changing procedure. 13. The updated nappy changing policy is displayed in the nappy changing room. All staff have been reminded of hand washing practice. 14. This bin has been removed and a replaced with a new pedal bin. 15. Three waterproof mattresses were purchased. 16. The wall has been cleaned and will be repainted during Easter holidays. 17. The skirting boards were cleaned and will be repainted during the Easter holidays. 18. Cleaning records were completed and will be regularly reviewed going forward. These will be completed daily by staff members. Safe Sleep: 19. All staff have reviewed the sleep check procedure and they will carry out sleep checks every 10 minutes. 20. The registered provider has completed sleep plans and will discuss each sleep plan with parents individually. 21. A third cot was purchased for the sleep room. The registered will ensure that sleep/rest equipment is provided for all children in the service. If necessary, floor beds will be purchased. Currently, there are no children attending under 1 year old
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (c) The ceiling light in the entrance hall area leading to the sanitary accommodation and to the playroom door was not in working order
Provider's corrective action:
- The bulb in the ceiling light has been replaced. The registered provider will complete regular maintenance checks
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 25, 26, 27, 28.