(d) The required police vetting was unavailable for 1 of the adults, who had resided in another jurisdiction for a period that exceeded 6 consecutive months, while over the age of 18. (4) Evidence of a minimum level 5 award in Early Childhood Care and Education, or an equivalent, recognised qualification, was unavailable in respect of two of the five new staff members, who were observed to work directly with the early years children. A third adult, who was not a new staff member, was also found to be working directly with the children, without a relevant qualification. This non-compliance had been identified at the previous inspection on 19 and 20 June 2024, when the same adult was found to be involved in the direct care of the early years children. The CAPA response at the time stated that this adult was allocated to the school age service and would not be allowed to work with the early years children going forward. However, this remained an issue. Non-compliances regarding unqualified staff members were also identified at previous inspections on 31 October 2023 and 11 October 2022
Provider's corrective action:
(d)The registered provider has stated the required police vetting has been applied for. (4) The registered provider submitted staff rosters indicating that the staff members who did not hold a minimum level 5 award in Early Childhood Care and Education do not work with the children directly. The registered provider will ensure to check qualifications in the future with adults working directly with children
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. There were broken toys and an outdoor playhouse broken in the outdoor area. The broken edge pieces posed a risk of harm to children playing in the outdoor area. Infection Control: 2. There was a torn pink mat in the baby room, children were playing on this mat on the day of inspection. Due to the matt being torn, it is unable to be adequately cleaned and poses a risk of cross contamination and infection to the children. 3. After the nappy changing process, the hands of the children were not washed. This poses a risk of infection to the children. 4. There was one rusted and broken peddle bin the training toilet sanitary facility adjacent to the toddler room and was not suitable for use by children. 5. The bin in the nappy changing room was not foot operated. Staff were observed using this bin to dispose of nappies with their hands without handwashing afterwards. This poses a risk of infection and cross contamination. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The registered provider assured the broken toys were removed from the outdoor area and will continue to complete outdoor risk assessments weekly going forward. Infection Control: 2. The registered provider removed the torn mats in the baby room and replaced them with new ones. Staff will monitor the mats on the floor and complete checks on a weekly basis. 3. The registered provider has updated the department by stating the hands of children will be washed after nappy changing. 4. The peddle bin has been replaced and regular checks will be conducted to ensure they remain intact. 5. The registered provider provided a statement advising they will purchase a new foot operated bin. Staff will engage in hand washing after each use of the bin
Regulation 25 — First aid
It was acknowledged that three wall mounted first aid boxes were accessible. However, all of the available medium and extra-large sterile wound dressings and eye pad dressings were out of date
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider stated that new dressings had been purchased. Monthly checks of all first aid kits will be conducted by staff
Immediate action notice. The non-compliance detailed under Regulation 9(4), that is outlined in the body of the report, had already been identified in respect of 2 of the adults during the 2 previous inspections that were carried out on 11 October 2022 and 31 October 2023.
Immediate action notice. The inspection focused on an examination of compliance under regulations 9, 10, 11, 23, 26 and 28; however, on inspection additional non-compliances which posed a risk were identified under Regulation 29. These findings are outlined within the relevant regulations within this report.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
A copy of a childcare qualification as listed on the National Qualifications Framework or a letter from the Minister or appropriate college was not available on file in respect of 3 adults that were working directly with the early years children. One of these 3 adults was part of the adult child ratio working directly with the early years children in the Toddler room on day 1 of the inspection. The second adult was part of the adult child ratio in the Wobbler room on both days. It was acknowledged that the third adult was not on duty during day 1 and was supernumerary in the Preschool (1) room during day 2 of the inspection. This non-compliance had previously been identified in respect of 2 of the adults during the 2 previous inspections that were carried out on 11 October 2022 and 31 October 2023. The registered provided submitted correspondence to the inspectorate on 29 November 2023, informing the inspectorate that the 2 adults without recognized early years qualifications would only work with school aged children and not be part of the adult child ratio with early years children. However, it was found that unqualified adults continued to work directly with the children
Provider's corrective action:
The registered provider replied to state that an appropriate letter from a third level college was now on file for the first adult who had been counted in the childcare ratios. The second adult, who is undertaking a QQI Level 5 course in college will not be counted in the childcare ratios going forward. The third adult is working in the school age service and will not be allowed to work with the early years children going forward. The registered provider stated they would continue to recruit suitable, qualified staff going forward
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for each of the adults. However, a disclosure in respect of 1 of the 28 adults was not dated within the 3 years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI- RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. Infection Control: 2. The practice of communal sharing of rolls of paper for hand drying after using the toilet was evident in the toilet areas off the Montessori room, the Preschool (2) room and the toilets between the Wobbler and Toddler rooms. Additionally, the rolls of paper were stored on top of either the paper dispenser holders, the toilet cistern or bin lid. These practices posed as cross infection risks. 3. A plastic bag of wooden toys was stored on top of the bin lid in the toilet lobby off the Preschool (1) room which posed as a cross-infection risk. 4. Bins that were not pedal operated but instead required the adults to handle the bins multiple times during the disposal of used children’s nappies were provided in the nappy changing area off the Baby room and the changing area between the Wobble and Toddler rooms which posed as a cross- contamination risk. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The registered provider stated that garda vetting for 1 staff was renewed, and they would continue to renew all as required going forward. Infection Control: 2. The registered provider stated that all paper towel dispensers had been filled and staff were reminded to do so going forward. 3. The registered provider stated that the wooden toys were removed immediately from the bin lid, and staff were reminded not to store things there. 4. The registered provider stated new nappy bins were being purchased and would be in use in the service
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d) 1. The outdoor play area boundary fence was missing 1 full panel of wood near the gate area. The boundary fence was not maintained in good condition for use as a childcare facility. 2. The lower-level glass panels on the doors in the Wobbler room and in the main foyer were sticky and grubby from the touching of children’s fingers and hands. Whilst the inspector was informed that the cleaning of the glass doors was included weekly on the cleaning schedule this was not regular enough to ensure that these areas were clean for the purpose of caring safely for early years children. (e) 3. A rusty and bent in pedal operated bin in 1 of the toilet cubicles located between the Wobbler and Toddler rooms was not suitable for use by children. 4. The liquid soap dispensers were empty in the toilet cubicle located between the Wobbler and Toddler rooms and in the toilets beside the Preschool (1) room and therefore adequate and safe handwashing after using the toilet by the children was not adequately facilitated. 5. The paper holder dispensers were empty of paper in the toilet cubicle located between the Wobbler and Toddler rooms, in the toilets beside Preschool (1) room, in the toilet lobby used by the Montessi room and in the toilet lobby off the Preschool (2) room which did not facilitate adequate and safe hand drying by the children after using the toilet. 6. The paper holder dispenser in the second toilet cubicle located between the Wobbler and Toddler rooms was malfunctioning and was not releasing the paper towels which did not facilitate adequate and safe hand drying after using the toilet
Provider's corrective action:
(d) 1.The registered provider stated the fences have been fixed and would be maintained in future. 2.The registered provider stated the windows have been cleaned and will be cleaned daily going forward. (e) 3. The registered provider stated the rusty bin was thrown out. 4. & 5 & 6. The registered provider informed the inspector during the closing meeting at 3pm on the second day of inspection that a delivery of paper towels and liquid soap had been delivered to the premises mid-morning during the first day of inspection. The registered provider stated via the CAPA document that all dispensers were subsequently filled up, and able to function, with both paper towels and liquid soap, and the children were then able to wash their hands in their care rooms