Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
Infection Control: 1. In the Waddlers room the vinyl cover on the child size sofa was torn and as a result could not be cleaned effectively. 2. In the Waddlers room at sleep time 50cm spacing was not maintained between the cocoon floor beds posing a potential infection control risk. Safe Sleep: 3. In total 14 children under two years of age slept on floor beds. Twelve of these children were in the Waddler room and two in the Little Ducks room. There was no evidence that individual sleep plans had been completed by staff for these children. A sleep risk assessment document was available; however, the form was generic in nature and did not clearly identify or document individual risks specific to each child. While parental consent had been obtained for the use of cocoon floor beds, the associated risks were not clearly stated, nor was there sufficient evidence demonstrating that individual risk assessments had been conducted and documented by staff for each child. Additionally, the service’s safe sleep policy did not include clear guidance regarding how individual sleep plans and risk assessments are to be completed and reviewed. As a result, the service was unable to demonstrate that appropriate, individualised safe sleep planning and risk assessment processes were consistently implemented for children under two years of age. 4. In the Waddler and Little Ducks rooms staff caring for the children were carrying out the sleep checks every 15 minutes rather than every 10 minutes. This is contrary to the safe sleep guidelines. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
Infection Control 1. A removable washable cover has been placed on the child size sofa. Ensure any defects on furniture can be suitably repaired, covered or removed. 2. Waddler room floor beds have been spaced 50 cm apart and where necessary, head to foot to minimise infection control and best utilise space available. Ensure staff adhere to 50cm spacing when placing floor beds. Safe Sleep: 3. Individual sleep plans have been put in place for each child and discussions have been held with each parent re. sleep plans for their child. An addendum to sleep policy has been created and sent to all parents. Ensure that all staff are aware of the sleep policy and the individual sleep plans for children are completed with parents ahead of children transitioning to floor beds. 4. It has been reiterated that sleep checks for all ages should be carried out every 10 mins and record sheets have been updated to state this, for clarity. Continue to reinforce that sleep checks be carried out every 10 mins, as per our sleep policy
Regulation not named in the report text
(1) The registered provider did not notify the Agency in writing of the change of person in charge, as required. The registered provider acknowledged that this was an oversight on his part. It was also acknowledged that a Change in Circumstances form for the newly appointed person in charge was submitted on the day of inspection
Provider's corrective action:
(1) A Change of Circumstances form for the newly appointed person in charge was submitted on the day of inspection. This will be done ahead of any changes in future
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 11, 16, 19, 25, 26.
Inspection of 13 February 2025 — Inspection Report
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. In the Big Ducks room a child was wearing an amber bead necklace. Amber bead teething jewellery is prohibited for use in early years services for children due to a risk of choking. Infection Control: 2. Some nappy changing practices observed during the inspection were inadequate for infection control purposes and at variance with the service’s nappy changing procedure as follows; (a) A staff member changed a child’s nappy and proceeded to dress the child without removing the soiled gloves. The staff member was observed to use hand sanitizer instead of washing her hands after changing the child’s nappy. (b) In the Waddler room some children’s hands were not washed following nappy changing. 3. In the Chicks room children’s hands were not washed before dinner. Two communal cloths were shared among the children posing a potential infection control risk. 4. In the Waddler room children’s hands were not washed prior to dinner. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Child wearing amber beads necklace: beads were removed and parents informed that they are not permitted to be worn in a pre-school setting. Parents have been advised to follow creche protocols as outlined in the Policies & Procedures handbook and staff have been advised that they are authorised to remove beads in the event that they are worn. Infection Control:
(a) Staff have been advised again on our procedures for nappy changing. Staff members have also been told that they must not use hand sanitiser for nappy changing. (b) Staff in all relevant rooms have been reminded about procedures for washing children’s hands after nappy changing. Managerial team have been observing nappy changing procedures in the relevant rooms and this will continue to ensure good practice is being maintained at all times. 3., 4. In the Chicks and Waddler Rooms, staff have been reminded to follow the procedures for washing children’s hands prior to mealtimes including the use of individual facecloths for each child. Sufficient Facecloths are available and staff have been told they must be used at all times. Managerial team have been observing hand washing procedures in the relevant rooms and this will continue to ensure good practice is being maintained at all times
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A ground floor low level openable window in the Little Ducks room did not have a restrictor in place. There was a sofa beside the window which children could climb on and exit their care room. Infection Control: 2. The nappy bins throughout the service were inadequate for infection control. They contained a lid which required staff to push a soiled nappy into the bin using their hands. 3. The bins in the Waddler room toilet was not pedal operated. 4. The pedal of one of the bins in the Big Duck sanitary accommodation was broken. 5. Children attending the Little Ducks room did not have their hands washed prior to snack time. 6. The sofa in the Little Ducks room contained a sticky residue and was torn in parts. It could not be effectively cleaned. Safe Sleep: 7. There was no thermometer available to the staff in the Waddler room to monitor the sleep room temperature where children aged one slept. There was a paper thermometer on the wall, however this was not displaying any temperature when the inspector observed it. A device which could accurately display the temperature of the room is required. The room temperature should not exceed 22oCelsius where children aged one sleep. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. Restrictors have been fitted to low level windows. Infection Control: 2. All lids have been removed from Nappy Bins to allow free access for pedal operation. 3. All broken pedal bins in the Waddler Room have been replaced. 4. All broken pedal bins in the Big Ducks Room have been replaced. 5. Hygiene protocols have been reviewed with all staff. 6. The “sticky” sofa has been removed and replaced. Safe Sleep: 7. Room temperatures in the Waddler Room will continue to be monitored
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
(b) There was no record of the maintenance of the fire fighting equipment in the service
Provider's corrective action:
(b) Fire-fighting equipment has been serviced and logged by SAS Fire & Security as per the attached file. An annual contract is in place for regular servicing of fire-fighting equipment
Regulation 29 — Premises
(c) In the previous inspection report dated 10th October 2023 the inspectors noted a stale odour was present in the Little Ducks and Chicks rooms with evidence of damp patches and mould spores on the ceilings and walls. While it is acknowledged that the registered provider has treated areas in the Little Ducks room there was evidence of mould growth in the Chicks room on the rear and side walls. This poses a health risk to children in attendance in this room. This was found non-compliant on the last inspection dated 10th October 2023
Provider's corrective action:
(c) Increased ventilation has been installed in the Chicks Room and treatment and repainting has been arranged. Management will monitor the room on an ongoing basis to ensure there is no recurrence