Inspection of 12 January 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (b) Although a reference from a reputable source was available for one staff member, it had not been appropriately verified. (d) Documentary evidence reviewed showed that one staff member had lived in two jurisdictions outside the State for a period of more than six consecutive months as an adult. Police vetting was only available for one of the two jurisdictions. (3) Documentation reviewed evidenced that the procedures specified above under 9(2) had not been carried out prior to two of the staff members commencing employment in the service as detailed above
Provider's corrective action:
- (b) The registered provider has verified the reference and will ensure that all references obtained by the service are accompanied by written verification going forward. (d) The staff member has made attempts to obtain Police vetting but has not received a response from the organisation in question. The registered provider has completed a risk assessment and is satisfied with the staff member’s suitability to work with children. (3) The service manager and assistant manager will review the documentation provided by future employees and will request a copy of Police vetting where it is identified that the staff member has lived outside the State for a period of six months or more as an adult. In circumstances where the registered provider is unsuccessful in validating a reference, alternative avenues will be explored to obtain a reference from another source
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. During the inspection, it was identified that not all staff in one of the care rooms were fully aware of the procedures to follow for a child with a serious allergy. Although a care plan was in place and the inspector acknowledges that staff understood how to respond to a serious allergic reaction, two of the three staff members were unaware of the medication available and the symptoms displayed for the child in the event of a mild allergic reaction. Failure to have full knowledge of a child’s medical requirements could result in delayed or inappropriate treatment. 2. 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 Renewal of Garda Vetting. 3. It was observed that electrical cables were not out of reach of children in the Playgroup room posing a potential risk to the children’s safety. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. The staff within care room, as well as the floating team, have been retrained on recognising mild allergic reactions and the procedures to follow. The child’s allergy, potential reactions, required medication, and all associated procedures were fully reviewed to ensure that all staff are confident with the procedures going forward. 2. Garda vetting has been obtained for the staff member. The registered provider has created a chart for the office notice board detailing the vetting expiry dates to ensure that re‑vetting timeframes requirements are met. This chart will be checked regularly. 3. The electrical cables have been safely secured out of reach of children. Staff were reminded of the importance of ensuring that all cables remain inaccessible at all times, and additional safety checks have been incorporated into the service’s daily inspection routines
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 25, 26, 28.