Inspection of 10 March 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- The registered provider did not ensure the following: (2) (d) A review of paperwork available showed international police vetting was not available for one staff member who previously lived outside of Ireland for a period of more than 6 consecutive months as an adult. (3) The review of documentation available demonstrated that the checks specified in (2) were not carried out prior to staff commencing in the service. For example: o One staff member commenced employment in the service prior to appropriate consideration of one of their references. This was identified as a non-compliance on the inspection held on the 12 March 2024 and actions put in place failed to prevent a recurrence. o One staff member commenced prior to police vetting being checked
Provider's corrective action:
- (2) (d) The police vetting was made immediately available. The registered provider will ensure all new staff hired will have international police vetting if required. (3) The registered provider will ensure all appropriate checks are completed prior to new members commencing in the service
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) The registered provider did not ensure the following: (j) Following a review of a sample of 12 records, the registered provider did not ensure a full record in writing was maintained for the administration of medication. For example: o Four records had no evidence a second person had witnessed the administration of the medication. o Two records did not have the signature of the parents acknowledging their child had received the medication. There was a potential risk medication could be administered incorrectly. (k) Following a review of a sample of 12 records, the registered provider did not ensure a full record in writing was maintained for accident and incidents. For example: o Three records did not detail the child’s full name. o One record did not detail the child’s date of birth. There was a potential risk children could not be accurately identified on the forms. These were identified as non-compliances on the inspection held on the 12 March 2024 and actions put in place failed to prevent a recurrence
Provider's corrective action:
- (j) Staff were updated in the importance of completing forms in full and have acknowledged they are aware of the procedures. The service ensure managers will check records are filled in correctly after each child is administered medication. (k) Staff were updated in the importance of completing forms in full and have acknowledged they are aware of the procedures. The service ensure managers will check records are filled in correctly after each accident or incident report is made
Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials
- The registered provider did not ensure the following: 1. The furniture in the following rooms was not at a suitable height for the age range of the children using it: o The chairs in the toddler room were too high for three of the children. The children’s feet were unable to reach the floor while they were seated on the chairs. o Some of the chairs were too low for the children in the Senior Preschool room, leaving the table too high for the children to engage comfortably in mealtimes and table top activities while seated. 2. Two wooden shelving units in the outdoor play area were broken and were no longer fit for purpose
Provider's corrective action:
- 1. The chairs in the care room were swapped around and are at the right height for the children in the rooms. The service will make sure that the chairs are age suitable in all rooms going forward. 2. The wooden shelving units were removed and was replaced with more durable equipment
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. A trailing flex from the speaker in the Junior Preschool room posed a potential trip hazard. Infection Control: The following increased the potential risk of infection: 2. The nappy changing mat was torn leaving the foam exposed in the nappy changing room off the Baby room, leaving an ineffective cleaning surface. 3. Children’s nappy creams were not individually labelled in the nappy changing room off the Toddler room, increasing the potential risk of cross contamination. 4. Children’s chairs were stored in the nappy changing room off the Baby room increasing the potential risk of cross contamination. Only items for use in the sanitary accommodation area should be stored there. 5. The following waste disposal systems required repeated hand contact with the disposal unit. This does not support effective infection control: o The nappy disposal bin in use in the nappy changing room off the Baby room. o The bins in the Toddler, Junior and Senior Preschool rooms. 6. Paint was peeling off the wall in an area accessible to the children in the Baby room leaving an ineffective cleaning surface. 7. There was a build-up of dust and debris on the ventilation fan in the toilets off the Toddler room. Administration of Medication: 8. The administration of medication was not sufficient to support effective safe practice. The care plan available for a child who required a specific type of medication did not clearly specify when the medication should be administered. It is acknowledged that this was addressed during the inspection, and a detailed care plan was made available. Fire Safety: 9. The details of the attendance of the children who transitioned to new rooms were not accurately recorded in the attendance book, with a child recorded as present in both rooms. Contemporaneous accurate attendance logs must be maintained to support the safe evacuation of children in an emergency. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. The trailing flex was removed. The registered provider will ensure that safety checks are completed on a daily basis. Infection Control: 2. A new nappy mat was made available. The service will ensure staff will check for damage in the future. 3. All creams were labelled, and the service will ensure that creams will be labelled immediately when sent in by parents. 4. The chairs were removed from the sanitary area and stored in the hallway. This will be reviewed on a daily check by management. 5. New bins were purchased, and the registered provider will ensure these are maintained in good condition. 6. Mirrors have been placed on the wall covering where the paint was peeling. The service will ensure that all the surfaces are effective for cleaning going forward. 7. The fan was cleaned, and the service will ensure to check these vents are clear of dust and debris. Administration of Medication: 8. The plan was updated on the day of the inspection, and parent information packs have been updated to request clear details for children on specific medications. Fire Safety: 9. The service developed a sheet to record children who transition to another room to accurately account for the children present
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19.