Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
Infection Control: 1. A radiator cover and an adjacent shelving unit within Preschool Room 2A were coated with sticky residue that had accumulated debris and posed a potential infection control risk to the children. 2. Within the two sanitary areas in Preschool Room 2A, it was observed that potty toilet training seats were discarded on the floor within close proximity to the toilets, where the children had direct access. Children’s toileting equipment must be safely stored away to mitigate infection control risks. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
Infection Control: 1. The radiator covers have been sanded and repainted. All classroom shelving units have likewise been sanded and painted, with a non -stick varnish applied to prevent adhesion of Sellotape residue. Going forward, all shelving units will be treated with a non -stick varnish. In addition, the use of non -adhesive Sellotape has been implemented, alongside a programme of regular sanding and repainting carried out by maintenance 2. A new ‘all in one’ training toilet seat has been installed thereby rendering the requirement for a second training seat redundant. This also enhances children’s safety during use and to mitigate infection control risks. Toilet seats are cleaned by staff members after each use. The new ‘All in One’ toilet seats will also be fitted in all children’s toilets going forward
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d) The flooring within one sanitary area in Preschool Room 2A was observed to be in a poor state of repair. It was documented at 10:45am and 11:48am that the soft flooring area surrounding the hand basin was wet from handwashing, buckling, and corroding backwards away from the wall This posed a risk of slipping and potential fungal growth. It is important to maintain a safe and hygienic environment for children. It is acknowledged in discussion with the person in charge that this issue has been logged on the maintenance repair list
Provider's corrective action:
A full renovation of the Pre -School 2A toilet has been carried out. New flooring and skirting boards have been installed to prevent buckling and corrosion. In addition, a larger sink has been fitted to minimise water spillage and support a safer environment. The daily risk assessment has been revised to ensure that staff monitor and check the toilet floor throughout the day. Maintenance personnel will conduct frequent inspections of the toilet area, and these areas will be prioritised for any required works
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
Infection Control: 1. In Wobbler 1B it was observed that individual cloths were used to wash children’s hands upon return from the outdoor area and after dinner. This is not an effective handwashing technique and could potentially expose children to harmful bacteria. Administration of Medication: 2. Emergency medication was not easily accessible to staff in the event of a medical emergency as it was held in the office which was located away from the care rooms. It is acknowledged that all staff were clear on the administration of medication however the distance to accessing emergency medication may delay the administration of emergency treatment. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
Infection Control: 1. The registered provider stated that immediately after feedback hot running water with soap is now used for all handwashing activities. A discussion was held with the care room lead and all teaching staff in Wobbler 1B to ensure that handwashing is carried out at all transitions, all teachers have signed updated policy and procedures. Administration of Medication: 2. The registered provider has stated that any child with prescribed emergency medication now has a clear sealed bag, with their picture, name, date, parental consent with the administration procedure written in clear bullet points. The bag will be kept in the classroom and brought with the child when going outdoors. The terms and conditions of the service state parents must inform management, and a care plan is formed once any illness that requires emergency medication is required, this medication will be stored and accessible as outlined above
(7)(a) There was no documentary evidence available that the registered provider had ensured that adults new to the service were provided with appropriate information on the service policies and procedures. New staff require an appropriate induction period in order to safeguard the wellbeing of children in the service. For example: • The files of six staff new to the service were reviewed. The documentary evidence available did not show that new staff had been informed of and understood the policies, procedures and practice of the service. There was no record available of the details of induction topics covered with dates of completion for the induction of new staff members. • This was not in line with the service Supervision and Appraisal policy which stated that the service will ensure each employee is fully assisted in understanding and becoming familiar with the demands of the post
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action All staff complete an induction period with the service Training and Compliance officer prior to commencing their employment. Policies and Procedures are made familiar to the employee and the employee signs off on this. The officer carries out regular checks of staff to ensure that they understand and implement the correct procedures. The induction forms and training sessions are now to be fully checked, signed and dated by each employee. Preventive Action The service has created a new Induction form and checklist. All inductions and signing off of employees on their induction and understanding policies and procedures will be stored and made available to Tusla inspectors onsite at the childcare facility in each employee’s file. The service has also engaged with the company who manage their software application which will track and document all training carried out
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(j) The registered provider did not ensure a full record in writing was maintained for the administration of medication. Following a review of 17 records, the full name of the two staff members carrying out the administration was not recorded 17 times. The signature of the parent on collection of their child was not recorded following one administration. (k) The registered provider did not ensure a full record in writing was consistently maintained for accident and incidents. Following a review of 18 records of accidents and incidents, the following was observed: • The was no records available for three children who had been involved in an incident or accident in the service. • Two forms did not have the full name of the staff member who completed the incident or accident record. • Two forms did not have a record of the date the parent had signed the accident form and one form did not include the name of the staff member that informed the parent. • Two forms did not record a date of the incident or accident and one form did not include the surname of the child
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (j) Staff reminded by memo that their full name is required when signing off medicine administration. Parents will be reminded by email that it is imperative that they sign and complete the medication administration form on collection of their child if medicine was required. Preventive Action (j) Parkside Childcare has engaged with early years specialist software company, with training training for staff on this software application. This will eliminate the need to rely on employees and parents signing off a hard copy. All completion of medicine administration will be signed off electronically, negating human error. Corrective Action (k) All staff were reminded by a memo of the importance of fully completing any accident or incident involving a child. This includes completing their full name and dates that parents signed the accident/ incident form. This memo also encompasses what constitutes an accident/ incident and that a complete record is always to be maintained in relation to a child in relation to an accident/ incident. Preventive Action (k) Parkside Childcare has engaged with early years specialist software company. This will ensure that an accident/ incident form is completed fully and completely before being able to submit it to a child’s file for record keeping
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. Risk assessments for the outdoor play area were not consistently completed in line with recent updates on the outdoor play policy. This can reduce the impact of safeguards in place for safe outdoor play. The following was observed: • A risk assessment checklist was not consistently completed in the care rooms prior to children accessing the outdoor play area. • The risk assessment in use in two of the care rooms was not a recently updated version and did not have updated safeguards included on the checklist. 2. An air freshener was accessible to children in an unlocked cupboard in one of the care rooms. This posed a risk of injury to the child. Infection Control: The following increased the potential risk of infection: 3. The paper towel used for hand drying in Wobbler 3 was not hygienically dispensed and required repeated touch, thereby increasing the potential of cross contamination. 4. There was an increased potential for cross contamination as sponges used for art activities were stored by the sink in Wobbler 1 nappy changing area where staff and children washed their hands. Only items for use in the sanitary accommodation area should be stored there. Administration of Medication: 5. The sharing of information on the administration of medication was not sufficient to support effective safe practice in one of the care rooms. Two staff members questioned were not aware of the practice around the administration of the medication. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Corrective action: All staff were reminded of the new policy and risk assessments have been checked each day by management and old risk assessment forms were removed entirely from site ensuring only the new form is used. Risk assessments of the garden areas are completed every morning by service management. Garden area risk assessments are completed by staff members of each classroom prior to children accessing the outdoor play area. Preventive action: Parkside Childcare will be implementing a new software application which will include a digital completion of a risk assessment for each classroom prior to children accessing the garden area. This will be a more efficient manner of completing risk assessments and ensure that only the most up to date form is being used in line with policies and procedures prior to children accessing the garden. This is preventive in nature as it will be more easily monitored by management through the software programme. 2. Corrective action: The air freshener was removed from the cupboard on the 15th April 2024 and staff ensure the child safety lock is always closed. Preventive action: All staff furnished with a memo on the 13th May 2024 as a reminder that air fresheners are to be stored out of reach of children at all times. Infection Control: 3. Corrective action: There was a Blue Roll used in Wobbler 3 is only for wiping down nappy changing mats after a change. It is not meant to be used for hand drying. The service hand towel dispensers mounted and fully stocked. Preventive action: Staff will ensure hand towel dispensers are fully stocked at all times. Management have ordered Blue Roll dispensers. 4. Corrective action: The sponges were removed from the wash hand basin and all staff issued with a memo reminding them that any art activity sponges used are only to be stored/ rinsed in the sink within the classroom area. The memo will also include that wash hand basins in the nappy changing areas are only to be used for washing hands. Preventive action: Management will ensure to monitor items within the nappy changing areas, ensuring nappy changing wash hand basins are used for solely washing hands and classroom sinks are used for art activity sponges. Administration of Medication: 5. Corrective action: All staff were furnished with a memo highlighting the policy and procedure on medicine administration. The care plans for specialist administration of medicine are displayed in the rooms. The service will ensure all staff are comfortable, confident, and competent administering specialist medicine. Preventive action: Updated policies and procedures will be issued to all staff by the 30th May 2024 and management will ensure each staff member signs off on their understanding of these. Management will continue to monitor the understanding and implementation of medicine administration in particular through regular training sessions. Parkside will engage in Paediatric First Aid training for all staff in the coming months