Inspection of 20 August 2025 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider on the 20 August 2025 under Regulation 9, in relation to a non-compliance identified under Regulation 9. A response was received from the registered provider which mitigated the risk identified on the 21 August 2025. See body of report for details.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (a)(b) The following was observed on the day of inspection: o Two written and validated references were not available for one adult employed in the service. o Two written references were available from a source other than a past employer for one adult, however, documentary evidence was not available to confirm that a validation check had been completed. (c) A Garda vetting disclosure was not available for review by the inspector for one adult who had access to the children attending the service. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider in relation to this. (d) Documentary evidence was not available for one adult to determine if international police vetting was required prior to commencement in the service. (3) Evidence was not available to demonstrate that the procedures specified in paragraph (2) were carried out in relation to two adults before employment commenced. The following was observed: o Garda vetting had not been obtained prior to one adult commencing in the service. o Two written references and a curriculum vitae were not available for one adult. o Two written references had not been validated prior to one adult commencing in the service. Full checks must be completed for staff members prior to them commencing employment in the service in order to establish that they are appropriate to have access to children
Provider's corrective action:
- (a)(b) o The staff member in question no longer works in the service. Management will ensure that all relevant checks are carried out prior to new staff members commencing in the service. o Two written references have now been validated and added to the staff file. All references will be validated prior to commencement dates. (c) The staff member in question no longer works in the service. Management will ensure that all relevant checks are carried out prior to new staff members commencing in the service. (d) The staff member in question no longer works in the service. Management will ensure that all relevant checks are carried out prior to new staff members commencing in the service. (3) Management will ensure that all relevant checks are carried out prior to new staff members commencing in the service
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (1) The registered provider did not ensure that there was a record kept in writing of the following information in relation to the service: (j) Four medication administration records were available for review, the following was observed: o There was no space available to record the child’s date of birth on the form. o One record did not include the child’s surname. (k) Fourteen accident and incident records were reviewed, the following was observed: o There was no space available to record the child’s date of birth on the form. o Seven records did not include the child’s surname. o Three records did not include a staff member’s signature or date of signing the form. o Two forms did not include a parent’s signature or date of signing the form. This information is required to ensure the children involved are clearly identifiable
Provider's corrective action:
- (j) The administration of medication record form has been updated to include a space for the child’s date of birth. Staff members have been made aware that all information must be recorded on the form. Management will review administration of medication forms to ensure that the correct information is included. (k) The accident and incident record form has been updated to include a space for the child’s date of birth, all outstanding information has been added to incomplete forms. Management will review accident and incident forms to ensure that the correct information is included
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- Infection Control: 1. Handwashing was not observed on the day of inspection, increasing the potential risk of cross contamination, as follows: o Children in the Baby room and Tots 2 room did not wash their hands before dinnertime. o A child from the Tots 2 room did not wash their hands after having their nappy changed. It is acknowledged that the staff member wore disposable gloves and an apron and washed their hands before and after the change. 2. During nappy changes, a child was observed to bring a toy into the changing area. The toy was not cleaned before returning to the care room. This posed an infection control risk. 3. Low-level highchairs used for mealtimes in the Baby room were observed to be stored in the nappy changing unit. This poses the potential risk of cross contamination, equipment and materials should not be stored in the sanitary areas. 4. A swing lid bin was observed to be in use in the sanitary area located in Tots 2. This requires repeated touch to dispose of waste and increases the risk of cross contamination. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- Infection Control: 1. Handwashing will be carried out for all children prior to mealtimes and after nappy changes. Staff members have been made aware of the importance of handwashing to avoid the risk of cross contamination. 2. Staff have been reminded that toys and equipment must not be brought into the sanitary accommodation. Management have implemented a new policy in the service in relation to this. 3. The highchairs have been removed from the nappy changing area and are now stored safely in another area. 4. The swing lid bin has been removed from the sanitary area. A new bin with no swing lid is now in place, limiting the risk of cross contamination
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 19, 25, 28.