Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
(b) 1. From 12.33pm to 12.45pm in Snowdrops room, staff were observed to not adequately meet the care needs of all the children in the room. Staff were observed not responding to the children’s needs when displaying cues of tiredness and not responding to the children’s non-verbal cues of communication. Examples observed included: • A child was observed to push their meal away and cry while rubbing their eyes. Rather than comfort the child, the staff members continued to feed other children. The child proceeded to lie on the floor and cry. During this 12-minute period, staff persisted in cleaning up after the meal and feeding other children. After 12 minutes a staff member was heard to state “I’m tired too” in response to the child. No further reassurances were offered to the child. The staff were observed to not listen to the voice of the child when the children were communicating their needs. This posed a risk to the children’s wellbeing. 2. Between 12:33pm and 12:50pm, staff in the Snowdrops room were observed to not work well together as a team. This posed a risk to the children’s wellbeing. Examples observed included: • A staff member ignoring a student on placement when they asked for guidance regarding the care of the children; and • A staff member ignoring a request from management to clean children’s faces following their hot meal. This posed a risk to the children’s wellbeing
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider has stated in her written response that staff have been reminded of the importance of responding to children’s needs promptly. Staff members have been afforded time for reflective practice during supervision and have revisited the services policy on responding to children’s cues. Each room has been given a radio to communicate to management when extra staff are needed to help with the direct care of children
The importance of shared responsibility and clear communication within the room has been re-emphasised, particularly during busy routine periods. During supervision and team meetings staff have been reminded of the existing expectations around teamwork, communication, and professional practice
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
Infection Control: 1. In Snowdrop room, a staff member was observed to wipe their nose repeatedly on her gloves while feeding a child their hot dinner. This posed a risk of cross infection to the children. 2. A staff member was observed to not wash their hands when they finished changing a nappy, which posed a risk of cross infection to the children. 3. The cots in the sleep room were not fitted with waterproof mattress protectors, which posed a risk of cross infection. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
Infection Control: 1 and 2. In her written response the registered provider stated that staff have been retrained in the importance of correct hand-washing procedures. The registered provider further stated that reminders have been placed in care rooms and sanitary areas
In her written response, the registered provider has stated that cots would be fitted with waterproof mattress protectors and routine checks of the sleep room would ensure compliance going forward
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) See statutory notice section in relation to Improvement Notice IN 1161 served
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 10, 11, 16, 24, 29, 32.
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. The water temperature in the Blossom room was recorded at 46.1°C in the hand basin in the children’s sanitary area. It is acknowledged when the inspector informed a staff member in the care room, the water heater temperature was reduced. This posed a risk of scalding during handwashing to the children in the care room. Infection Control: 2. The nappy changing unit in the sanitary facility adjacent to the Snowdrops room was not observed to be cleaned between uses. This poses a risk of cross contamination and cross infection between the children. 3. The lidded bin in the sanitary area adjacent to the Violet room was observed to be overflowing, with used paper towels on the floor. This increased the risk of cross infection at the service. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action The registered provider stated in the response that following the identification of elevated water temperature (46.1°C) in the Blossom Room hand basin, the water heater was promptly adjusted to bring the temperature within the recommended safe range for children’s handwashing. The adjusted temperature was confirmed using a calibrated thermometer. While the increase may have been due to a fluctuation in the system, water temperatures throughout the facility have consistently been maintained within safe limits. This incident appears to be isolated. The service remains fully committed to always maintaining safe and appropriate water temperatures to ensure the wellbeing of both children and staff. Preventive Action A daily water temperature checklist has been put in place across all children’s sanitary areas. Staff have been reminded to record temperatures daily and immediately report any irregularities. In addition, the maintenance team will carry out periodic reviews of the water heating system to identify any underlying causes of temperature fluctuations. Infection Control: 2. Corrective Action The registered provider stated in their response that the nappy changing unit was immediately cleaned and disinfected. All staff were reminded of the importance of cleaning the changing unit after each use to prevent cross infection. The staff attended a refresher training session on the nappy changing protocol. Preventive Action Ongoing refresher training will be conducted to reinforce good practice in good hygiene practices. All required hygiene and infection control measures, including clear signage at nappy changing stations, daily supervisory checks, staff training, and formal induction procedures, are already in place within the setting. These practices will continue to be implemented consistently and monitored closely by the person in charge to ensure that the cleaning and disinfection of nappy changing units occurs after every use. 3. Corrective Action The registered provider stated in their response, that the bin was emptied immediately, and the surrounding area was cleaned and disinfected as part of our normal daily hygiene standards. It is important to note that maintaining a high standard of hygiene is part of our established daily routine. On the day of inspection, the housekeeper was absent. Preventive Action Regular bin checks and waste disposal will take place. Room supervisors will continue to monitor hygiene practices throughput the day
Regulation 24 — Checking in and out and record of attendance
(1) In the Mayflower room, the inspector observed 12 preschool children present. A written record of the number of children that were checked in to the care room on the day of inspection was reviewed by the inspector and was found to have 11 children checked in. On discussion with the person in charge, it was outlined to the inspector that 12 children were checked in on the electronic application used by the service. The person in charge stated that the written record was used for fire drills and in the event of an emergency occurring in the service. This posed a safety risk to the children. Not checking children in to the service correctly may hinder the care and safety of the children in the event of an emergency occurring. It is acknowledged when brought to the attention of the person in charge the remaining child was checked in on the written record
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action The registered provider stated that the service uses an online clocking in system to record children’s attendance. The electronic system is the official method used for attendance and is relied upon during fire drill and emergencies. We will continue to use the online attendance system as our primary and official record for daily attendance and emergency situations. Ongoing monitoring and routine checks by management are in place to ensure that the system remains accurate, supporting our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and care. Preventive Action To ensure ongoing accuracy and reliability of the online clocking-in system, staff will continue to be trained and reminded to clock in each child immediately upon arrival. Regular audits of the attendance records will be conducted by management to verify that the system reflects the actual number of children present. Also, staff will perform cross-checks during key transition times (such as before outdoor activities or fire drills) to confirm attendance accuracy in real time. Any discrepancies identified will be addressed promptly
Regulation 25 — First aid
(1) On the day of inspection, no staff member held an in-date certificate in First Aid Responder (FAR) training. It is acknowledged that five staff held an in date basic paediatric first aid certificate. This posed a risk to the children in the service in the event of a child requiring emergency medical treatment
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action The registered provider stated in their response that three staff members had already commenced their FAR training prior to the expiration of their previous certificates. Unfortunately, the completion of the practical component was delayed due to an unexpected electrical outage at the training centre on the scheduled day of assessment. This unforeseen event caused a delay in issuing the new FAR certificates, resulting in a temporary gap between the expiration of the previous certifications and the completion of the updated training. However, in the interim, the five staff members holding valid Basic Paediatric First Aid certificates were designated to respond to any medical emergencies, ensuring that qualified personnel were always available. Since the inspection, the three staff members have successfully completed their FAR training, and their updated certificates are now in place. Preventive Action All necessary systems for tracking and maintaining up to date first aid training are firmly established in the service. We will continue to rigorously maintain these practices to ensure that all staff always hold current first aid certifications, reinforcing our commitment to the safety and wellbeing of every child in our care
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d) The inspectors noted unclean areas, toys and equipment in the Blossom, Mayflower and Snowdrop care rooms, sanitary and outdoor area. The inspectors observed areas that required maintenance such overgrown thorny bushes protruding the boundary fence in the outdoor area. This was at variance with the cleaning and risk assessment records that were reviewed by the inspector which were completed daily by the staff on the electronic application. This posed the risk of safety and cross infection to the children
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action The registered provider stated in their response that all affected areas were addressed. A full deep clean was carried out in the areas identified. Particular attention was given to high touch points and shared resources to minimise the risk of cross contamination. The outdoor area was attended to with the overgrown thorny bushes along the boundary fence trimmed back and the surrounding area cleared. Preventive Action The service has procedures in place for daily cleaning, risk assessments and ongoing maintenance. In addition, regular checks will take place to ensure that all areas meet expected standards and that any issues are identified and addressed. Maintenance of the outdoor environment, including risk assessments will continue and be monitored closely
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 10, 11, 16, 19, 32.
(2)(a)(b) The registered provider had not ensured that safe recruitment practices were completed. Of the eight required references, five were available. However, none of the references had been validated. Of the required eight references: • Three references were not available in respect of two adults. • There were no written validations available for any of the eight references required. Through discussion with the person in charge, they stated that the three missing references and eight missing validations were not available on the services personnel file. This was contrary to the services recruitment policy which stated: Successful candidates will have their references checked before an offer of employment is made, and that references will be held on the employee’s personnel file, and that references will be validated. (3) A review of documentation evidenced that the requirements of Regulation 9(2) had not been completed prior to four adults being appointed, assigned, or allowed access to or contact with a child attending the service. • It was confirmed that one staff member had commenced work in the service prior to the date on the staff member’s Garda Vetting record. • Two adults had commenced in the service without appropriate references being in place. • Four adults had commenced in the service without references being verified. Not fully vetting staff prior to allowing them access to the children in the service posed a risk to the children attending. (7) The person in charge did not demonstrate that they had taken all reasonable measures to ensure that all employees and unpaid workers were appropriately supervised and provided with appropriate information and training to safeguard the health, safety and welfare of children attending the service and to comply with the regulations as follows: • Through a review of documentation and observations of practices, the inspectors were not assured that all employees were provided with appropriate information and training on the policies and procedures in place in the service. Non-compliance was identified under Regulations 9, 16, 19, 23, 32 on the day of inspection. Staff practices observed were directly at variance with the policies in place in the service in relation to Regulations 9, 19, 23 and 32. The staff training policy in place states that training needs are identified through support and supervision which was not occurring regularly in the service as detailed below. • There was no induction record available for two staff members, and a partially completed and unsigned induction record for a further staff member, who had commenced employment in the service since the inspection dated the 8 May 2024. This is at variance with the staff training policy in place which stated every staff member will receive induction training which will be recorded. The person in charge confirmed in discussion she had only partially completed a record of induction for one of these three staff members and had not completed an induction record for the other two. • Through review of records and discussions with staff and the person in charge it was evident that staff had not received appropriate supervision. There were no records available relating to staff supervision. The person in charge stated to inspectors that no supervision meetings had been carried out in the past, and she intended to start having these meetings in the future. Staff members stated they had not had any supervision meetings. This was at variance with the service’s staff supervision policy which stated that all staff members must have regular supervision every 2 weeks, for a duration of one hour, the session would be recorded, and the record kept in the staff member’s file
Provider's corrective action:
(2)(a)(b) The three references have now been provided for the two adults and the eight references have been verified. The written response stated management will continue utilizing the online system in place to ensure all references are thoroughly completed and verified before staff are permitted to commence work in the service. (3) Management submitted a new roster to show the staff member commenced work on the day the Garda Vetting record had been received. Ongoing training will be provided to the person in charge to ensure on inspection that early years inspectors have access to the required vetting records, aligning with the company’s recruitment and vetting policy
The written response received stated induction records will be completed, signed and available on inspection . The service will ensure that induction training forms will be signed on the same day the training is completed. Management will regularly audit training records to ensure compliance. Ongoing training will also be provided to the person in charge. The written response received confirmed that no training occurred in September 2024 . Training resumed in October 2024, incorporating staff meetings and staff support supervision meeting. The service plans on having regular meetings with staff with detailed records maintained to confirm that all staff members will receive the required supervision. Management will review these records periodically to ensure compliance. Additionally, staff will consistently sign off on training received and any associated action plans to document progress and accountability. Ongoing training will be provided to the person in charge , to ensure that staff meetings and staff support meeting that take place are documented. These records will be readily available on inspection
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(1) (i) The service did not have a daily staff roster available in the service. The registered provider confirmed at the feedback meeting there was a colour coded roster template they had developed for this purpose. This template should include the staff start, finish, and break times, along with break cover. It was confirmed in discussion at the closing meeting that this roster template was not in use in the Cork service. The person in charge stated she would some days alert staff via text who was covering breaks, but confirmed this had not happened the day of inspection, or on the 15 Oct 2024 during the previous week
Provider's corrective action:
The written response received stated the service now has an online staff roster, ensuring shifts are outlined and updated weekly. The roster is accessible to all staff via app on their phones, with notifications highlighting any schedule changes. Break times are added to the roster to ensure clarity and proper scheduling for all staff members. Additionally, the person in charge will alert staff to any last-minute changes via teams app. A printout of the roster, including break times, will be displayed in the staff area for easy access. This printout will be completed every Friday for the following week
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
(3) A staff member was observed on inspection to speak to child using a loud, angry tone of voice, and to physically handle the child in an abrupt manner. The inspector saw a child in the outdoor area remove their wellies and stand in a muddy puddle in their socks. A staff member approached the child and spoke to the child in a loud, angry tone of voice, stating ‘No, we keep our wellies on’. They then lifted the child and removed their socks in an abrupt way, before putting the child down. The child cried for a period of ten minutes following this interaction, and the staff member did not offer any comfort or reassurance to the child. The inspector observed another staff member put the child on their lap and rub their back to support them to calm down and stop crying. This practice was at variance with the service’s behaviour management policy, which stated the following procedures were unacceptable for supporting positive behaviour: shouting or raising of staff voices, and staff failing to reassure or comfort a child. The registered provider did not ensure that no practices that are disrespectful, degrading, exploitive, intimidating, emotionally or physically harmful or neglectful are carried out in respect of a pre-school child whilst attending the service
Provider's corrective action:
The written response stated an immediate investigation was conducted, ensuring all relevant details were considered and providing the staff member an opportunity to participate. Management took immediate steps to retrain the staff member in behaviour management strategies. The training focused on enhancing the staff members ability to respond calmly and appropriately in challenging situations, with particular attention to voice, tone and volume, and ensuring actions are sensitive to a child’s needs. The manager will continue to monitor the staff member’s performance in handling similar situations. Regular check-ins will be conducted to provide additional support as necessary. Further professional development will be provided to all relevant staff members, reinforcing best practices in behaviour management
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. There was an area sectioned off in the Violets room that staff stated was used as an office space. Although the area was cornered off by a safety gate, the gate was not fixed and was easily moved. The children had access to a laptop and cable that was plugged in, a coffee mug, and other office equipment. There was a potential risk of injury to a child if they were to enter this area. Safeguarding: 2. The service’s child safeguarding policy stated that the service will maintain a comprehensive log/record of all child safeguarding and welfare concerns within the service. There was no record or log of child safeguarding or welfare concerns available within the service. The person in charge confirmed they had no record of a child safeguarding concern available. 3. The service did not display their Child Safeguarding Statement in a prominent and public place, as is required under the Children First Act 2015. The service did have a Child Safeguarding Statement dated February 2024. The person in charge stated they had removed the service’s display copy when it was being amended and did not put it back up on display. Safe Sleep: 4. There were four mattresses without appropriate fitting sheets observed in the service, as follows: • The fitted sheets on two cot mattresses in the designated sleep room were too tight, causing the mattress ends to curl up. • At sleep time in the Mayflower room, one of the sheets on a mattress on one of the stacking beds was tight and resulted in lifting at the side opposite to where the child was sleeping. • An adult sized sheet was observed on a mattress under one of the sleeping children on a stacking bed in the same room. Not ensuring all mattresses have appropriate fitting sheets poses a risk to the sleeping child. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The written response received stated the sectioned-off area utilized as an office in the Violets room has been removed, eliminating any possible hazards for the children. Safeguarding: 2. The written response received stated the service maintains a secure online up to date record system for documenting and tracking child safeguarding or welfare concerns. The management team will continue to provide ongoing training to the person in charge. Monthly meetings will be held to provide continuous support and professional development, ensuring the person in charge remains equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge in relation to documentation, recording and filing of child safeguarding and welfare concerns. 3. The written response received stated the child safeguarding statement is now displayed in a public area, making it visible to both staff and visitors. This ensures that all relevant parties are informed about the service’s commitment to safeguarding children. Safe Sleep: 4. The written response received stated, the person in charge will ensure a sufficient supply of spare sheets is always available at the centre. This provision ensures that, should the sheets provided by parents not fit the cots or beds appropriately, staff can promptly replace them with the centre’s spare sheets
Regulation 32 — Complaints
(2) (b) One complaint held in the services designated complaints folder, from 2023, was not dealt with in line with the service’s complaints policy. The record included: • a written account of a complaint from a parent, about a staff member • a record of a text message the parent sent about the complaint • a sheet with a series of four questions that the manager had devised to ask a staff member while investigating the complaint The service policy detailed that the parent would be sent an acknowledgement that the complaint had been received and told how it would be dealt with, and by whom. The person in charge stated there was no record available. The service policy detailed that the manager will arrange to meet with the staff member and keep an accurate and detailed account of what was discussed. The person in charge stated there was no record available. The service policy stated the manager will inform all parties involved of the outcome of the complaint made. The person in charge confirmed to the inspectors that this had not taken place. There was no evidence of keeping the complainant informed of the progress of their complaint on a weekly basis, in line with the service policy. (3) (a)(b) The person in charge stated that the service maintained a designated complaints folder. While this had a record in writing of one compliant made to the service in 2023, this did not include a record of the way the complaint was dealt with, or the outcome of the complaint. Furthermore, there was no record of a complaint the service had received in 2024. On discussing the status of a 2024 complaint, the person in charge stated she had not seen this complaint, and they were not maintaining a record of this complaint in the service
Provider's corrective action:
(2)(b) The written response received stated that all complaint records previously stored in the designated hard copy complaint folder have now been securely transferred to an online system. All records related to the 2023 complaint, including how it was managed, the investigation steps, and the outcome, have now been added to the online complaint folder. The service acknowledges the concern regarding the absence of a complaint record for 2024. All relevant documentation, including the complaint details and investigation process, are now in the online system, which is now accessible to the person in charge. (3)(a)(b) The written response stated the complaint received in 2024 was thoroughly investigated and resolved by the management team. All relevant information, including the complaint details, investigation process, and outcome, are now documented and securely stored in the online complaint folder. The service will reinforce to the person in charge the importance of clear and consistent communication particularly in sharing complaint information. This will ensure alignment and awareness between the person in charge and the management team regarding the status of each complaint. The service will continue to ensure that the final outcome of every complaint is thoroughly documented, including the actions taken, the resolution provided, and any improvements or changes resulting from the complaint. Records will be easily accessible to relevant parties. Regular training will be provided to all staff, especially those in leadership roles, focusing on the importance of proper handling of complaint documentation in the service and on inspection