Inspection of 26 January 2026 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. An Immediate Action Notice was issued on 23 January 2026 due to significant risk identified in relation to a child who may require anaphylactic treatment. This is detailed under regulation 23 of this report. The registered provider submitted a response on 26 January 2026 which was deemed to appropriately address the risk.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (7)(a) The registered provider did not ensure that staff had appropriate information and training in the procedure for managing emergency medications outlined in the service’s medication administration policy. Further information is outlined under regulation 23 of this report
Provider's corrective action:
- All staff have now completed additional training in the administration of emergency medication, including auto- injector use and the management of anaphylaxis. A detailed, updated care plan has been developed and signed by the parents. A letter from the hospital and relevant medical documentation have been obtained from the parents and are securely stored on file. Local and Regional Management will monitor the situation closely going forward and ensure compliance with all aspects of regulation 9
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (4) Through review of records and discussions with management it was evident that a record was not made or shared with parents regarding a significant incident that occurred on 15 January 2026 in relation to a child until the following day. Failure to provide information to a parent/guardian in a timely manner could compromise the safety and wellbeing of children
Provider's corrective action:
- (4) Local management have been reminded of the importance of informing parents/guardians of significant incidents in a timely manner. The parents were informed the following day and have been kept up to date with all relevant information. A meeting was offered to the parents to discuss the incident and any concerns. Local and Regional Management will ensure ongoing compliance will be monitored through supervision, regular internal audits and management oversight of all significant incident reports to ensure timely communication and adherence to regulatory requirements
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- 19 (1)(b) The registered provider did not demonstrate an appropriate balance between service and child needs in relation to sleep. Sleep practices for children attending the Wobbler 3 room were observed on the first day of inspection. The inspector observed a staff member wake a child who was asleep in the cot room at 13:30. The staff member told the inspector that it is common practice to wake the children at 13:30 for dinner. After being woken, the child was brought back to the Wobbler 3 room. The child refused to eat and showed signs of tiredness including crying intermittently, rubbing their eyes and staring into space. Failure to facilitate children to sleep according to their needs can lead to increased irritability and can impact negatively on their emotional and physical development
Provider's corrective action:
- All staff have been retrained in the service’s Safe Sleep policy, with specific emphasis on ensuring children are not woken from sleep unnecessarily and that sleep is facilitated in line with each child’s individual needs. Staff have also been reminded of the potential negative impact that disrupted sleep can have on children’s emotional and physical wellbeing. Ongoing monitoring will be carried out by local and regional management to ensure consistent adherence to appropriate sleep practices
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. The emergency exit in the cot room was blocked with beds, a cot and a chair when children were sleeping at 11:17 on the first day of inspection. This posed a risk to the safe evacuation of the children in the event of a fire. It was acknowledged that the items were removed when the inspector brought this to the attention of the service manager. Administration of Medication: 2. The registered provider did not ensure that appropriate procedures were in place for a child who staff reported may require treatment including adrenaline auto-injectors for anaphylaxis as outlined below. a) Staff and management did not demonstrate that they had adequate knowledge or training in how to manage anaphylaxis. There was no record of training in relation to anaphylaxis. The service manager stated a ‘video’ had been sent to staff as training; however, she was unaware of its content as she had not viewed it. Although it was acknowledged that no allergen was provided, when questioned by the inspector, one adult caring for the child at dinner time did not know the child had an allergy or may require anaphylactic treatment. A second adult was not aware of the requirement for a second auto-injector. b) A second auto-injector was not available on site as required. A staff member caring for the child advised the inspector that this was stored in the office. The service manager stated it was stored in the child’s bag. When the inspector looked for the auto-injector with staff it was discovered it was not present. c) The anaphylaxis action plan provided for the child was significantly deficient. It did not specify the signs of anaphylaxis, the availability of a second auto-injector, criteria for administering a second dose, or clear staff responsibilities. The service manager reported that neither the child’s parents nor medical professionals were consulted when developing the plan contrary to the service’s medication administration policy. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider on 23 January 2026 due to the significant risk posed. A response was received on 26 January 2026 which was deemed to appropriately address the risk. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: The items identified were removed immediately on the day once this was brought to the attention of the Service Manager. All staff have since been retrained in fire safety procedures, with particular emphasis on maintaining clear and unobstructed emergency exits at all times to ensure safe evacuation in the event of an emergency. Local Management will continue to monitor room layouts and evacuation routes to ensure ongoing compliance with fire safety requirements. Administration of Medication: As outlined under regulation 9 (7)(a), all staff have been retrained on 26 of January 2026. Medical reports and letters from doctors have been provided and a comprehensive care plan has been put in place and signed by parents and all relevant staff have been made fully aware of the contents of the new care plan. Local Management will monitor the situation closely going forward and ensure compliance with all aspects of regulation
Found compliant: Regulation 10, 11, 27.