Inspection of 17 July 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- The following vetting and qualification documentation was unavailable on file for the new adults:
- (a) Two written validated past employer references were unavailable for two adults in the service and one written past employer reference was unavailable for one adult. One adult required a reference to be obtained from their most recent employer and there was no evidence of the validation of a reference from a past employer for another adult. (d) The record of the employment/experience history available for two adults was incomplete and it was unable to be confirmed if international police vetting was required for these adults. (4) There was insufficient evidence available to show that qualifications for one adult met the requirements of the regulation
Provider's corrective action:
- The service advised in a written response that: Corrective and Preventive Action
- (a) All references have now been updated and validated by phone. Two references will always be validated by phone. (d) The updated curriculum vitae were submitted to the Inspectorate. All employees will be asked to ensure they have no gaps in information on curriculum vitae. (4) The staff member’s qualification has been verified and evidence has been forwarded to the Inspectorate. The required evidence is available on the staff member’s file
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. Garda vetting was available for 13 staff members. However, two of these vetting disclosures were not dated within the previous three years and not in adherence to the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. Infection Control: 2. Four cot mattresses were stained and three of them did not have waterproof coverings and posed potential infection control risks. Action submitted by the Registered Provider The service advised in a written response that:
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Renewal vetting has been obtained for one member of staff and application submitted for the second staff member. A new system has been implemented in the service to ensure vetting is renewed within 3 years. Infection Control: 2. New mattresses and waterproof bedding were purchased. Mattresses have been added to the service’s quarterly risk control checks and will be changed as needed
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (a) The records showed that the recent f ire drills had not been conducted monthly in the service with the most recent fire drill record showing that it was undertaken on the 20 May 2024. (b) The service kept a record of the number, type and maintenance record of the smoke alarms however the records showed that the system was last maintained on the 17 January 2023 and not annually as required
Provider's corrective action:
- The service advised in a written response that: Corrective and Preventive Action
- (a) A fire drill was carried out 18 July 2024 and 12 August 2024. Fire drills will be carried out monthly. (b) The fire alarm system was serviced on 15 August 2024. Fire alarm systems will be serviced within 12 months. The fire alarm system company’s automatic system has been updated to accommodate this
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (e) On the day of the inspection at times a maximum of 23 children were cared for in the Preschool 1 playroom. The 23 children had access to a sanitary unit with one cubicle containing a toilet and wash hand basin, and a second cubicle with a toilet, nappy changing unit and one wash hand basin. The sanitary provision allocated to the 23 children did not meet the regulatory requirements. The requirements are that there is one toilet and one wash-hand basin for every 11 toilet-trained early years children and that there is one nappy-changing unit, including a wash-hand basin and changing mat, for every 11 children in nappies
Provider's corrective action:
- The service advised in a written response that: Corrective and Preventive Action (e) Going forward the service will ensure to only care for 22 children in Preschool 1 playroom
Regulation 30 — Minimum space requirements
- (1) and (2) On the day of the inspection at times there were 23 children attending parttime/full day care services being cared for in the Preschool 1 playroom. 5 of these children were aged 2 years and required 2.35 square metres of clear floor space and 18 of the children were aged over 3 years of age and each required 2.3 square metres of clear floor space. A total of 53.15 square metres of clear floor space was required for the children in attendance however there was only 51.37 square metres of clear floor space in this playroom
Provider's corrective action:
- The service advised in a written response that: (1) and (2) Corrective and Preventive Action Going forward the service will ensure to only care for 22 children in Preschool 1 playroom
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 22, 25, 27, 28.