Inspection of 10 December 2025 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider on 10/12/2025 in relation to a non-compliance identified in relation to Regulation 9(2)(c), Garda Vetting. A response from the registered provider was received on 11/12/2025 and accepted.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (c) Documentary evidence in relation to Garda Vetting Disclosure for one adult employed was not available. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the Registered Provider on 08/10/2025 in relation to this
Provider's corrective action:
- The staff member was immediately removed from direct contact with Children. The registered provider obtained the outstanding Garda Vetting Disclosure for the identified adult. Relevant management staff will receive refresher training on safe recruitment and Garda Vetting requirements. The person in charge will conduct quarterly audits of all staff files to ensure ongoing compliance with Garda Vetting requirements. A centralised Garda Vetting Register will be implemented to track application dates, receipt dates, and renewal requirements for all staff
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. In the baby and in the fledgelings rooms inflated balloons were accessible to the children who were aged 13 months- 22 months. This posed a risk of choking and inhalation. Balloons are not advised for children aged 3 years or less. 2. In the fledgelings room five cord blinds on windows were not secured. 3. In the playschool room a trailing flex from Christmas tree was on the floor posing a hazard. 4. In the outdoor area the following was observed: • A metal hook was protruding from a low position on the side wall. This posed a hazard as a child could fall onto it causing an injury. • There were sharp edges at the top of a low wall where plastering had been damaged. This posed a risk of injury if a child fell onto it or scraped against it. Safe Sleep: 5. In the Fledgelings room one baby aged 13 months was put to sleep on a “Cocoon bed”. No written risk assessment and parental consent to support this decision was available. It is acknowledged that when this was brought to the attention of the manager, this child was immediately changed to sleep in a standard cot. Infection Control: 6. In the baby room the infection control measures for the cleaning of toys which children have put into their mouth was unsatisfactory. This increases the risk of infection spreading from one child to another. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1.All inflated balloons were removed immediately from the baby and fledgelings rooms. Staff were reminded that balloons are not permitted for children under 3 years, and this will be reinforced during room safety checks. The service’s risk assessment and safety checklist will be updated accordingly, and a use of ballons’ s policy was developed. 2. The five unsecured cord blinds were secured using appropriate safety cleats on the day of inspection. A full environmental safety check of all rooms was be completed to ensure all window blinds comply with safety standards. 3. The inflatable Christmas tree and trailing flex was removed from the floor immediately All staff were reminded to ensure that all electrical items are safely positioned and flexes secured or removed when not in use. 4. Access to the affected outdoor area was restricted immediately. The protruding metal hook was removed, and sharp edges filled, and temporary measures were put in place to prevent children accessing the damaged wall area. The wall will be repaired and made safe, including smoothing and sealing sharp edges. Outdoor risk assessments will be reviewed and included in routine premises checks. Safe Sleep: 5. The child was immediately transitioned from the cocoon bed to a standard cot, in line with safe sleep guidance. All staff will be reminded of safe sleep policies, and compliance will be monitored through routine room checks and sleep audits. 6. Infection control: On the day of inspection, staff were instructed to remove all toys that had been mouthed by children and to clean and disinfect them immediately using an approved cleaning method before reuse. A separate labelled container was introduced for toys awaiting cleaning. All staff received refresher training on infection prevention and control. A mothing toy policy was developed, and compliance will be monitored through daily room checklists and monthly audits by the person in charge
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 16, 24, 25, 27.