(2) (d) Documentary evidence showed that one adult had lived in three different jurisdictions other than Ireland for more than six months as an adult. International police vetting was not available for one of the three jurisdictions. (3) Documentary evidence available showed that the checks outlined in (2)(d) had not been carried out prior to one adult having contact with the children in the service
Provider's corrective action:
(2) (d) This was an isolated incident where the staff member provided inaccurate information, despite HR obtaining two international vetting’s. Employee applied for the required police vetting 2 April 2025. Management have added a formal residency declaration to our employee details form, ensuring all residency information is confirmed by the applicant before employment begins. (3) As evidenced in previous inspections, the service maintains a robust system for staff vetting and employee file checks. This relates to a single, isolated incident in which a staff member provided inaccurate information regarding their residency history. Based on the information confirmed by the staff member during the recruitment process, we were not aware that the police vetting was required. Management have added a formal residency declaration to our employee details form, ensuring all residency information is confirmed by the applicant before employment begins
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for one staff member. However, this vetting disclosure was not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting. This posed a potential safeguarding concern. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 2. Staff who have been working with the service for three years and require Garda vetting renewal will now have their applications submitted one month in advance to ensure there are no gaps in vetting going forward. The admin team have implemented a Garda vetting tracker system with an alert to monitor expiry dates and ensure timely renewals to avoid any gaps
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(1)(j) Of thirteen administration of medication records reviewed, the signature of the parent/guardian was not present on six records confirming that they were aware that medication had been administered. (k) Of seventeen accident and incident records reviewed which had been shared with parents through a software application, the signature of the parent was not present on four records while the signature of the early years educator present for the accident was not recorded on one record. This was not in line with service policy or a memo to staff reminding them of the process for obtaining signatures on accident forms which was clearly displayed in the Wobbler room
Provider's corrective action:
(j)This non-compliance relates to two parents who had not signed a total of 6 records. On any occasion when medicine was administered the signed consent forms were recorded and the notifications of the administrations were shared directly with the two parents as evidenced on the application. Parents have now signed the records. We have updated the medicine policy along with our medicine consent form, parents when completing the medicine consent form will now tick and sign a section to state that they are aware they will be notified of the medicine administration through the electronic application and that they are required to sign the medicine notification through the application before 6pm on the same day. We have assigned a member of the administration team to monitor the medicine forms weekly and to follow up with any parents who have not signed their child’s medicine report. (k) Accident reports have been signed. The service have a new form in place which requires the first aid officer to check weekly that the accident reports have been signed by staff and parents, if a report is not signed the first aid officer will make contact with the staff/parent to sign the report
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
(1)(a) The nappy of one child was not changed in a timely manner on the day of inspection which did not facilitate the child’s comfort and posed a risk of the child developing nappy rash. At 9:45am the inspector observed a strong odour on entering the Wobbler room. At 9:50am the manager arrived in the room and advised the staff member to call if they require assistance. The staff member advised that they needed to change a nappy as the child was soiled. The child’s nappy was observed to be changed when an additional staff member arrived in the care room having started their shift at 10am
Provider's corrective action:
(1)(a) The creche manager has been provided with further training to assist the care room in a timely manner when required. When Senior Management was providing the training, the Manager had explained that as Tusla had arrived approx. 15 mins earlier this caused a distraction for her at the time. Re-training has been provided
Regulation 22 — Food and drink
A suitable alternative was not provided to children who did not like the fish and sauce provided on the day of inspection. Three children in the Montessori room who refused the fish pie which included mashed potato were offered plain mashed potato as an alternative. Two staff members informed the inspector that children who refuse or cannot eat the protein available due to preferences or dietary requirements are not offered an alternative protein but will receive the available carbohydrate. This is not in line with the service policy which stated that children should have 30-40g of protein or the Nutrition Standard for hot meal provision which states that every hot meal should contain half to 1 serving of vegetables or salad, 1 serving of potatoes, rice or pasta and 1 serving of meat, poultry, fish, eggs, beans or cheese (Food and Nutrition Standards 2023). During feedback the registered provider said that there was an alternative meal available however this was not observed to be provided to the children on the day
Provider's corrective action:
As explained by the Manager at the inspection, the 3 children are plain eaters they do not have dietary requirements, the children were offered the fish pie initially and when they did not eat the sauce, fish and vegetables they were given a plain alternative as agreed with their parents. There was an alternative of tomato chicken and couscous available on the day. Our healthy eating policy and the Food and Nutrition Standards were shared with parents and the children will be encouraged to eat a varied diet
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A box of suncreams were stored on a low-level shelf accessible to children in the Toddler room. This presented a potential risk of injury to the children. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The suncreams in the toddler room have been disposed of. When suncream is required again, the cream will be stored on a high-level shelf in the toddler room