Inspection of 23 April 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- The staff roster demonstrated that there were periods during the service’s operational hours whereby neither the person in charge nor one of the deputies were present. For example, the roster for the current week evidenced two one-hour periods and a 30-minute period where this was the case and the previous week’s roster indicated two half hour periods during which the person in charge or a deputy were not on duty
- Records of validation were unavailable for the two references held in respect of one adult
- Required police vetting documentation was not in place for one of the adults, who had resided in another State for a duration that exceeded six consecutive months, while over the age of 18
- Evidence was unavailable to demonstrate that one of the adults had attained a minimum level 5 award in Early Childhood Care and Education, as listed on the National Framework of Qualifications
Provider's corrective action:
- The registered provider’s response stated that she will ensure that either she or one of the deputies will be on duty during lunch times
- The response stated that the validation had been completed but not documented and that the validation is now recorded. (d) Police vetting has been applied for
- As the staff member is unable to recover her certificate, they have been registered to repeat the level 5 award. This course will be completed within a few months
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- (a) While it was noted that at least two adults were available throughout the period of inspection, the staff roster demonstrated that two adults were not consistently present during the hours of operation, as required. From a sample review of a two-week period, it was established that only one member of staff was present at 7.30am each day, until a second adult arrived between 8.00am and 9.00am
Provider's corrective action:
- In the written response, the registered provider outlined that she is usually on the premises with the first member of staff, however, this is not noted on the roster. The registered provider has stated that going forward, she will have two members of staff on duty
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: 1. The Garda vetting disclosures available for four of the adults were not dated within the previous three years, in adherence to the Early Years Inspectorate Regulatory Notice ‘EYI-RN12.3 Renewal of Garda Vetting’. Infection Control: 2. Refrigeration of the children’s perishable snacks, which included yogurts and ham sandwiches, was not ensured before the mid-morning meal break was accommodated. This increased the risk of food spoilage and was also found at the previous inspection on 14 July 2022. The CAPA response at the time stated that parents had been informed of the requirement to refrigerate perishable foods and that a second fridge had been purchased to facilitate the number of children who attended the service. However, this remained an issue. Safe Sleep: 3. Staff advised the inspector that one of the children slept in a buggy, which was stored in the main care room. This practice posed a risk to the sleeping child and was at variance with the service’s Safe Sleep policy. It was acknowledged that the child’s parent was informed of the safety issue during the inspection and that the buggy was subsequently removed. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- General Safety: 1. Updated Garda vetting in respect of the four adults has been applied for. Infection Control: 2. The written response stated that the registered provider has spoken to the staff in relation to this and that parents are now putting yogurts into a sealed bag, labelled with their child’s name. There are trays available at the entrance to the service, for children to place these bags on top of and the bags are then placed into the fridge. Perishable sandwiches must also be placed into a labelled bag for refrigeration. As a preventive measure, parents have been advised not to include perishables in sandwiches, if they do not want their child’s sandwiches to be refrigerated. Safe Sleep: 3. In her reply, the registered provider stated that staff had previously discussed the importance of not using a buggy for sleep, with the child’s parents and that this was reiterated to one of the parents during a phone call, on the day of the inspection. The use of a stackable bed has been reintroduced for the child and staff are working with the child in relation to this practice. The buggy was collected from the service on the day of the inspection
Regulation 26 — Fire safety measures
- (b) Annual servicing of the wired smoke alarm was not ensured, as required. The most recent record of servicing was dated 9 February 2023
Provider's corrective action:
- The written response acknowledged that the servicing was overdue and outlined that the servicing company had been delayed in attending to same. The company were contacted on the day of the inspection and called to the premises to undertake the service the following Friday
Found compliant: Regulation 19, 22, 25.