Inspection of 12 March 2026 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2) (d) International police vetting was available for eight staff members who had lived outside the state for a period over 6 months. Three of the eight documents presented were not available in English or Irish. (3) The registered provider did not take appropriate measures to ensure that all employees were suitable to work in an early years service prior to their commencement. Eighteen references available for twelve staff members were not validated prior to them commencing work in the service
Provider's corrective action:
- (2)(d) Translation of three international police vetting sought by staff concerned and now on file. Little Orchard policies have been revised to ensure that translation of international police vetting is a stated requirement within the relevant polices. (3) All current employees have two references on file that confirm that they are suitable to work with children. Little Orchard policies and procedures have been revised to ensure that all reference checks are carried out prior to employee commencing work
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- Infection Control: 1. Three-foot pedal bins in sanitary accommodation areas did not open with the foot pedal, the lids were disconnected from the base unit and staff members were observed to use their hands to open bin lids posing a risk of cross-infection. 2. A section of plaster was missing from a wall behind a nappy changing unit, leaving the raw concrete exposed. This surface could not be cleaned effectively to prevent cross-infection. Safe Sleep: 3. On day one of inspection the baby sleep room temperature was recorded at 22.4°C prior to children under one being placed to sleep. This was brought to manager’s attention and remedial actions were put into place including managing the room heating and the addition of cooling devices. A section of the care rooms was maintained between the required 16-20°C and children were placed to sleep there as an interim measure. Later in the day, the sleep room returned to the required temperature. On day two of inspection, the sleep room temperature was within the required limits. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- Infection Control: 1. All nappy bins are in working order within the service. Upon changing the bin bag in the nappy bin, the foot pedal and the lid can become disconnected. A memo issued to all staff to state that upon changing the bin bag in the nappy bin to ensure foot pedal and lid are connected and that all nappy bins are to be operated by foot pedal only. 2. Section of wall with broken plaster with concrete exposed has been repaired and repainted. Memo issued to all staff to remind to notify management of broken or damaged equipment. Safe Sleep: 3. Corrective actions were taken on the day, as noted by the inspector. Due to recent refurb of heating system prior to last winter, the temperature of the baby sleep room can fluctuate as we come into the warmer months of the year now. The temperature is monitored throughout the day by staff and corrective actions such as correct ventilation and cooling devices such as portable air conditioning unit are used, as well as monitoring the heating and turning off/boosting as necessary throughout the day. Contacted plumber who refurbished the system to enquire about fitting individual thermostats to radiators in baby room sleep area. Once thermostats are fitted to radiators in the baby sleep room it will be possible to control the temperature in the sleep room more easily. As we are coming into the early summer and the heating system will not be required, it should not be an issue to control the temperature in the room due to radiators, while we await the plumbing works to be carried out. We have a plan in place entitled the acorn room temperature action plan which outlines these points and is displayed within the room currently
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 16, 20, 21, 28.