Inspection of 27 March 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (a) (b) There were two references and validations missing in regard to one staff member and one reference and validation missing for two additional staff members. Inadequate vetting of adults, working directly with children, poses a risk of unsuitable adults having contact and access to the children in the service. (d) The inspector was unable to assess whether two staff members required international police vetting due to gaps in their curriculum vitae
Provider's corrective action:
- (a) (b) All missing references and validations are now on file for each staff member. Management will ensure that all references and validations are in place before commencement of employment. (d) The curriculum vitae for both staff members have been updated. Management will ensure that there are no gaps in CVS’s prior to commencement of employment in the future
Regulation 15 — Record of pre-school child
- (e) One authorisation for collection record was missing in respect of one child. (h) One record of immunisation was missing in respect of one child
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statements were received from the registered provider;
- (e) (f) Management spoke with the parents/guardians and the missing information was submitted and stored on each child’s record
Regulation 16 — Record in relation to pre-school service
- (i) The inspector noted, at the opening meeting with the person in charge, that there were no staff names on the staff roster to cover during breaks, posing a risk that there was potentially not sufficient staff to cover. In conversation with the person in charge it was stated that breaks were organised with staff on a daily basis and may need to be cut short due to staff absence
Provider's corrective action:
- (i) The staff roster will reflect the names of staff covering all breaks
Regulation 19 — Health, welfare and development of child
- BASIC NEEDS: (1) The inspector observed that there was no rest/quiet area available in the Toddler care room. In conversation staff explained that the sofa had been removed because the children were jumping on it, however it had not been replaced with more suitable soft furnishings preventing the children from being able to sit quietly away from noisy activities
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was received from the registered provider; (1) Soft furnishings, including two children’s sofa’s and rainbow cushions, have been reintroduced to the rest/quiet area of the Toddler care Room. This is to ensure that there is a quiet area where children can sit away from noisy activities or rest throughout the day. Management have spoken with staff in the room in regard to the requirements for this area
Regulation 21 — Equipment and materials
- (1) Out of the 16 books available in the perspex book box in the Waddler care room 12 were observed to be damaged. The books were torn, crumpled and pages were missing, potentially reducing the children’s enjoyment in being able to see the pictures and follow the full story. (2) The inspector observed that a table in use in the home corner of the Toddler care room was in a poor state of repair. There were several areas where the paint had flaked on the table making it difficult for the children to use the table effectively during play. (3) Two shatter proof wall mirrors in the Waddler care room were worn and ineffective, reducing the children’s ability to explore their own appearance
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statements were received from the registered provider; (1) The books in the Waddler care room have been replaced. Management will meet, on a monthly basis, with room leaders to discuss the replacement of used and broken resources. (2) The table in the Toddler care room has been covered with vinyl contact to enable the children to be able use the table. (3) The worn mirrors were removed from the Waddler room and replaced with a new mirror
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: (1) The window in the Waddler sleep room opened out fully onto a concrete path, posing a safety risk should a child gain access to the window. (2) The lock on the laundry room door, where the washing machine, buckets, mops and dirty linen were stored, was not working. The door was ajar when the inspector walked into the sanitary area of the Toddler toilet area, making it accessible to the children. In discussion staff from the room stated that the door lock had been broken since last summer when the door got jammed with the heat and had to be forced open. (3) The inspector observed three double buggies lying on the floor of the Waddler sleep room, posing a tripping hazard. In conversation, staff stated that these are used to take children for a walk and for ease of use they are being stored on the floor of the sleep room near an exit doorway. (4) The inspector observed, in the Toddler sleep room, where all of the children were aged two years to three years old, that a child’s legs were lying beyond the length of the sleep pod, posing a tripping hazard. The manufacturers guidance suggested that the sleep pod was suitable for children aged from six months. In conversation staff stated that all of the stackable beds and mats were already in use and that five children from the Toddler room slept in the available sleep pods. (5) The fire door in the hallway located between the Waddler and Toddler care rooms, which lead directly out to the car park, posed a safety risk from children being able to access the push bar mechanism and potentially leave the building unsupervised. (6) A nail observed protruding from a broken wooden slat, lying on the grass of the outdoor play area, posed a potential safety risk should a child fall on the rusty nail on the wet grass. (7) There were exposed hinges on the wooden dresser in use in the home corner in the Toddler care room, posing a safety hazard should a child catch their clothing or fingers on the hinges. The broken doors of the dresser were lying at the bottom of the unit. Infection Control: (8) In contrast to the service’s infection control policy the cots in the Waddler care room were not being sanitised between shared use. The inspector observed that the cleaning of shared cots was not recorded on the cleaning schedule. In conversation staff stated that the cots were not cleaned between use. (9) The inspector observed that there were no disposable cloths available in the Waddler or Toddler care rooms for cleaning, posing a risk of cross infection and or contamination. The inspector observed cotton cloths left in a corner of the Waddler sluice room and in an overflowing box at the sink in the Toddler care room. Staff in both rooms stated that cotton cloths are in use on a daily basis. (10) The infectious disease policy outlined that mouthed toys and soothers be placed in a sterilising as soon as is practical after use. On two separate occasions during the inspection, in the Waddler care room, the inspector observed that staff did not place mouthed toys or soothers into a sterilising solution when the children were finished using the toys or soothers, posing a significant risk from cross infection. In conversation with staff, they stated that the sterilising solution is not made up every day and is only made when the room is quiet, and staff have the time. (11) The pedal on the pedal bin in use in the Waddler sluice room was broken preventing the lid from closing properly, posing an infection risk from the number of adults lifting the lid with their hands to insert waste. (12) Contrary to the handwashing procedure detailed in the infectious disease policy procedures for hygienic handwashing were not carried out in the Toddler care room. The inspector observed an adult squeeze dispensing soap on to each child’s hands and wash the soap straight off the child’s hands by putting their hands directly under the running water. In conversation, the staff member was aware of the correct method of hygienic handwashing however, this was not observed in practice. (13) The inspector observed that children’s sleep linen was not individually labelled or stored hygienically as per the service’s safe sleep and infectious disease policies. In discussion, staff stated that between use the children’s linen is rolled up and left on the window sill until it is next required to be used. Safe Sleep: (14) Contrary to the service’s policy on safe sleep the inspector observed, in the Toddler sleep room, that there were no ten-minute physical sleep checks being carried out on the twelve resting/sleeping children. In conversation, staff in the room stated that they did not record the children’s colour, position or breathing, along with the name of the staff conducting the check and the time of the check. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statements were received from the registered provider; General Safety: (1) The windows in the sleep room of the Waddler care room have been secured in order that no child could exit from them. A monthly health and safety check will be carried out with staff in the future to identify any issues. (2) A new lock has been installed on the laundry door to ensure no child can access the area. (3) The buggies are now stored in the playground shed outdoors. (4) Stackable beds have been brought from storage to accommodate the children requiring to sleep or rest in the Toddler sleep area. (5) The alarm on the fire door in the hallway located between the Waddler and Toddler care rooms has been reinstated. (6) The wooden slats have been made safe and the fencing has been secured on both sides. (7) The wooden dresser had been removed from the Toddler room. Infection Control: (8) Staff have been reminded of the importance of sanitising cots between shared use and retraining has taken place in regard to the infection control policy and safe sleep policy. Review of infection control policy to be carried out regularly with staff. (9) All cleaning cloths have been removed and replaced with disposable towels. (10) A steriliser is now in use in the Waddler care room for mouthed toys and soothers. (11) The pedal operated bin in the Waddler sluice room was replaced with a new pedal operated bin. (12) Staff in the Toddler care room have been reminded of the importance of effective handwashing and a handwashing song is now sung as each child washes their hands allowing an appropriate amount of time for same. (13) Sleep linen in the Waddler care room is now being stored in line with the service’s safe sleep policy and staff have been retrained on same. Safe Sleep: (14) Staff in the Toddler care room have been reminded to include all physical aspects including breathing, colour and position of the ten-minute sleep checks. The sleep check record has been amended to reflect these changes
Regulation 29 — Premises
- (b) Two window handles, out of reach of the children, were missing on windows in the Senior Pre-school and the Toddler care room leaving the windows unsecured. (c) Air vents in the Waddler nappy changing area and the Toddler sanitary area were full of dust impeding the circulation of fresh air
Provider's corrective action:
- (b) The two broken window handles in the Senior Pre-school and the Toddler care rooms have been replaced. (c) The air vent in the Waddler nappy changing room has been cleaned. Staff have been reminded of the importance of keeping air vents free from dust
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 25, 26, 28.