Inspection of 5 December 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (1)(b) The designated person in charge or the named person to deputise were not present when the inspectors arrived unannounced to the service. The deputised person in charge arrived at the service at 9:55am and the person in charge arrived at the service at 10:15am
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action The person in charge has been changed to the Manager in the service. This was an oversight as the role changed and the record was not updated. At our monthly meeting the importance of informing management if a team member is delayed so another team member can be placed in the service until the delayed team member arrives was discussed. Management do not foresee this as an issue as this was a once off issue. Preventive Action Management have implemented a new alert system using an electronic messaging application and a backup plan involving another team member who is out of ratio in case of emergency when a staff member is delayed getting to the centre
Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child
- (1) From a sample of 11 children’s registration records reviewed, the registered provider did not ensure children’s registration records were fully completed for two of the children attending the service. Evidenced as follows: • There was no registration record on file for one child attending the service. • Written parental consent for appropriate medical treatment of the child in the event of an emergency was not completed on one child’s registration record. This information is essential in the case that either child required emergency medical care
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action Management introduced a checklist to make it easier identify any missing files. We have reverted to using the service’s old medication record sheet so that it has all the information required. Preventive Action Staff had retraining on required governance at our monthly meeting
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (j) A blank medication administration form was reviewed on the day of inspection. The following was not included on the form. • No provision for a witness signature in the event of the administration of medication to a child in the service. It is acknowledged that the person in charge confirmed that medication had not been administered to any children in the service in 2024. (k) A sample of ten accident and incident forms were reviewed on the day of inspection. • Two records did not include the date when the parent signed. • Four records did not include parent’s signatures. It is important that parents/guardians are informed of any accident/incident relating to their child so they can monitor their child appropriately. • One record did not have a record of the name of the staff member completing the form
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action (16)(1)(j) Management have changed the medication record sheet so that it has the information required. (16)(1)(k) The centre manager will check accident and incident books monthly to address any ongoing uncompleted forms. Preventive Action (16)(1)(j)Management facilitated retraining on required governance at the monthly meeting. Management have now made this the official medication book for medication record sheets going forward. (16)(1)(k) Staff have been retrained on filling out accident incident forms and the importance of them being completed correctly
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 1. There was no documentation available in the care room detailing important information on the care, supervision and strategies required for children who had additional care needs attending the service. This information should be readily available in order to provide and plan for children’s safe care and development. 2. The children were not observed to use the outdoor area on the day of inspection. This practice is at variance with the service’s outdoor play policy, which states outdoor time is an extension of indoor activities and part of the service’s daily curriculum
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action (1 ) This was an unfortunate oversight as previously this documentation was done in line with a quality support agency. Staff have now completed this documentation for the child who required it. (2 ) Management have implemented a visual timetable in the classroom to ensure adherence to the daily schedule, including outdoor play. Management have conducted a staff meeting to reinforce the importance of outdoor play. Preventive Action (1) This documentation will be completed prior to the child attending the service and updated with any changes throughout the year. This has now been added to the reopening plan and checklist so that management and staff have the information in place prior to a child starting in the service. (2) Management will conduct routine checks to ensure compliance, establish a feedback mechanism for reporting disruptions
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for two staff members. However, these vetting disclosures were not dated within the previous three years in adherence to with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI- RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. 2. Uncut grapes and cherry tomatoes were present in children’s lunches and were not quartered or halved, posing a choking risk. In addition, there was a full-sized plum observed in a lunch box which did not have the stone removed posting an additional choking hazard. 3. Equipment stored in the care room and the hall that children were observed to use on the day of inspection were stacked in hazardous positions, posing a risk of injury. Evidenced by the following: o Adult sized chairs were observed to be stacked and stored on top of adult sized tables in the hall. In addition, on the stage in the hall there were tall bar stools and heavy equipment such as adult sized tables and chairs were stored and easily accessible to children. o A fan heater was observed to be stored on top of a plastic shelving unit which was accessible to children. This posed a risk of injury if pulled down. 4. The temperature in the care room was too warm, recorded at 24.7°C at 10:45am. This is outside the required temperature range of 18-22°C to ensure the children’s safety and comfort. It is noted that staff members opened the windows to reduce the temperature of the care room when the inspector brought this issue to their attention. The temperature in the care was recorded to be 23.5°C at 12:30pm. 5. The outdoor area was not maintained in a manner that was safe to children. Evidenced by the following: o There were broken toys observed in the outdoor play area to the side of the service. o The outdoor play area was unclean with litter in the area to the front and to the side of the service. In addition, there were no risk assessments for the outdoor play area available when requested. This was at variance with the outdoor play policy which states the outdoor area will be safe and will be checked by a member of staff for safety before use. Infection Control: 6. There was no warm water available out of the hot tap of the hand wash basins in the care room or sanitary facilities. The water temperature in two hand wash basins in the sanitary facilities measured between 11.5°C and 13.1°C at 10:51 am. The water temperature in the care room measured 9.8oC at 11:00am. This did not support effective hand washing. This non-compliance was observed on the previous inspection in February 2022 and the preventive action had not been sustained. 7. A soft, foldable mat was observed to be stained and unclean. This posed a risk of cross infection. Fire Safety: 8. Children’s attendance records were not completed in a timely manner after children had been collected from the service. Six children were observed to be collected by parents or guardians at 12:25pm. The attendance records were not updated to reflect this until 12:45pm. This reduced the effective evacuation in the event of an emergency. Action submitted by the Registered Provider General Safety: Corrective Action 1. Garda vetting was submitted for the two staff members. 2. Parents have been informed through a communication application that grapes etc must chopped up and pitted. Also, a team member will check lunch boxes. 3. Management have put a request in with the committee that the stage is kept clear at all times so as not to pose a risk to the children. The chairs are moved so as not to pose a risk to the children. The fan heater has been moved to floor level so as not to be a risk (the fan is bladeless so not dangerous for children). 4. Management have added in a fan heater/cooler that can warm or cool the room as required. 5. The litter and toys have been removed and risk assessments have been reimplemented, staff normally have risk assessments but due to a printing issue they were not available. Preventive Action 1. A digital tracker has been set up for staff files so management and the team member are aware when the vetting etc needs updating. 2. A team member will check lunch boxes as they are handed out for any choking hazards. 3. Moving the chairs and checking the stage has been added to the daily risk assessment. 4. Management have added regular temperature checks to the daily risk assessment. 5. Team members will alert management immediately if there is a broken toy that needs to be disposed of and the toy will be stored away from children until it is collected to be disposed of. The community hall committee has been informed of the build up of litter and the requirement of it to be disposed of. Infection Control: Corrective Action 6. Management got the temperature adjusted that evening to the correct temperature and checked back over the following days to make sure it was holding the temperature. 7. This mat has been removed. Preventive Action 6. Management have added the temperature checks to the daily risk assessment so as to make sure the temperature does not drop again. Management have also alerted the club committee to the importance of handwashing temperature for all visitors to the club, not just children. 7. Management will aim to only buy wipe clean floor mats in future. Fire Safety: Corrective Action 8. Attendance records will be completed in a timely manner, the team are now aware of why this is important. Preventive Action 8. One team member a day has the role of attendance so to make sure they are completed in a timely manner. Supporting documentation submitted General Safety: 1. An updated Garda Vetting disclosure for one staff member. Evidence that the registered provider has begun a Garda Vetting application for the second staff member. 2. No evidence submitted. This will be reviewed on the next inspection. 3. Daily risk assessment. 4. Daily risk assessment. 5. Daily risk assessment. Infection Control: 6. Daily risk assessment. 7. No evidence submitted. This will be reviewed on the next inspection. Fire Safety: 8. No evidence submitted. This will be reviewed on the next inspection. Summary Comment The corrective and preventive actions taken by the registered provider are sufficient to address the non- compliances 2 – 8 under Regulation 23. However, Regulation 23(1) will remain outstanding until the one outstanding document has been received by the inspectorate
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (e) The premises was not equipped with adequate and suitable sanitary facilities. On the day of the inspection staff stated the sanitary facilities are used by adults working in the service, adults working and using the community centre and the children attending. Children and adults require separate sanitary facilities
Provider's corrective action:
- Corrective Action (e) Management have discussed this with the committee and have been given permission to sign post two of the cubicles to be used only by children attending the service during operating hours. Preventive Action (e) The sign posting of these cubicles has been added to the daily risk assessment to make sure it is completed daily
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 25, 27, 28.