Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
Infection control: 1. The pedal operated bin in the sanitary area had the lid sitting on top and was not attached to the pedal operating function. A staff member was observed to handle the lid after washing her hands and then returned to the care room. This posed a risk of cross contamination and infection. Safe sleep: 2. The air temperature of the Toddler room which was used for sleep was recorded at 24.9°C while three children aged between 2 to 3 years were sleeping. This exceeds the recommended temperature range of 18°C to 22°C for children of this age. It is acknowledged that staff had opened windows and obtained a cooling device but temperatures were unable to be reduced to below 23.5°C. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
Infection control: 1. The lid was reapplied to the bin on the day of inspection and staff were reminded of the importance of using the foot pedal to open the bin. A staff meeting was held where cross contamination was discussed. The bins will be checked each morning at the time of the safety checks. Safe sleep: 2. The day of the inspection was hot and it was difficult to cool the room. A second air cooler has been added to the same room with the temperature now reading 18.0°C. The service will now use an extra cooler or fan in the room on hot days and plan to install wall mounted air conditioning unit in the near future
Regulation 27 — Supervision
On entering the toddler room at 13:05, it was noted by the inspector that three children aged between 2 to 3 years were sleeping on floor beds unsupervised. It is acknowledged that staff entered the room between every 5 to 10 minutes and performed recorded sleep checks. This level of supervision is inadequate and posed a risk to children of having access to the room and other children unsupervised
Provider's corrective action:
Management will allocate a staff member to remain in the toddler sleep room at all times while the children are sleeping. This will be allocated on the staff roster to ensure all staff are aware
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 10, 11, 16, 19, 24, 28.
(2) The roster indicated that there were an inadequate number of staff rostered in the afternoon in both the Baby and Pre-school care rooms. The inspector observed at 14:17 pm that the staff member in the Baby care room was working on their own where two adults were required as the adult/child ratio was 1:5. The staff member was present in the room with six children aged between 12 months to 18 months old and three additional children, from the Baby care room, were in a separate sleep room along the corridor, one of whom was crying. In conversation, the staff member stated they could not leave the room to care for the crying baby as they were on their own. It was acknowledged that a second staff member, entered the room at 14:20 pm. In conversation the staff member stated they were not rostered on for that day but had received a call to come in and cover. The inspector observed that the ratio in the Pre-school room was two adults working with fifteen children. However, there were periods between 13:32 pm and 14:20 pm where one adult was observed leaving the room to conduct sleep checks for two separate sleep rooms compromising the care and safety of the children in the Pre-school care room
Provider's corrective action:
(2) A new manager has started in the service and second adult is due to start in two weeks ensuring that the adult/child ratios are maintained in the service at all times
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
(h) A number of children did not have their names recorded in the attendance record of the care room they were attending. Staff stated that as the children moved rooms, they did not update the room records, and the names were still recorded under the previous attendance records. This posed a risk that in the event of an emergency, the safe evacuation of children could be hampered. (j) Not all administration of medication records were fully completed. Out of a sample of ten administration of medication records, dates of births were missing for all ten records. In addition, one record was missing the parent’s signature and the witness signature for the adult who checked the medication being administered, posing a risk that the parents/guardians were not informed that medication had been administered by an adult in the service
Provider's corrective action:
(h) The attendance records of all children have been updated. Staff will ensure, in future, that each child’s name is recorded in the care room they are attending. (j) All missing details have been completed for each child’s administration of medication form. Staff have been reminded to ensure that all details are completed for each child. Weekly checks will be carried by management out to ensure that all details for each child are being input on their form
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: (1) Garda vetting was available for all fourteen adults. However, one vetting disclosure was not dated within the previous three years in adherence with the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI- RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. (2) Both kitchen doors were wedged open providing access to unsafe areas. In kitchen one, along from Room Two, there was no childproof locks on the cupboards under the sink where children could potentially have access to a container of soap scum and grime remover posing a safety risk from exposing the children to toxic materials. In kitchen two, next to the Playschool care room, there were no childproof locks on the fridge in which medication was stored posing a safety risk should children gain access to the chemicals in the medication. (3) A storage unit with five trays, located in the spare sleep area, was mobile and made of light plastic material posing a tipping risk should a child lean or pull on it. (4) A camera cable was hanging off a drawer on a sink unit in the spare sleep area, posing a safety risk from a child entangling themselves on it. Infection Control: (5) A rubber mat in use on the Room One and Room Two nappy changing unit was observed to have exposed corners with foam sticking out, making it difficult to clean effectively. (6) The nappy changing bin in operation in the Room One and Room Two changing area was not pedal operated, posing a risk of cross contamination from the number of adults opening and closing the lid after nappy changing. (7) The orange sofa and red chair in the Baby care room were noted to have exposed corners, making them difficult to clean effectively. (8) There were four beds with fitted sheets and one mattress stored upright on the floor area of kitchen two, posing a risk of cross contamination. In conversation, the registered provider stated that these were put there temporarily in order to make the Playschool care room available for the children. In future they will be stored under the stairs which are inaccessible to the children. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: (1) Renewed Garda vetting was applied for and received for one adult. Management will ensure that up to date vetting is on file for each adult in the service in future. (2) Both kitchen doors and the fridge have been fitted with safety devices to ensure the children cannot access these areas. Regular checks will be carried out, by management, to ensure the kitchen doors are secured and the kitchen areas are inaccessible to the children. (3) The storage unit was removed from the sleeping area. (4) The camera cable has been removed from the drawer. Infection Control: (5) The rubber mat in use on the Room One and Room Two nappy changing unit has been removed. (6) The nappy changing bin in operation in the Room One and Room Two changing area was replaced. (7) The orange sofa and red chair in the Baby care room were removed and a new ones have been ordered. (8) The beds and mattresses have been removed from the kitchen and are now stored under the stairs