Inspection of 16 April 2024 — Inspection Report
Regulation 11 — Staffing levels
- (2) While the minimum adult/child ratio were met in the morning in the Pre-school care with sixteen children in attendance with three adults, the adult/child ratio was not met in the Pre-school care room in the afternoon. The inspector observed at 13.05 pm that eighteen children were in attendance with two staff members, where three staff members were required. This posed the potential risk that the children may not have been adequately supervised. The sessional service, where the adult/child ratio was 1:11, had finished at 11.45 am and the part-time/full day care adult/child ratio was to 1:8 in the afternoon. In conversation staff stated that two children were due to go home at 1.30 pm
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statement was received from the registered provider; (2) Management will ensure that the minimum/adult ratios are in place at all times
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
- General Safety: (1) A wooden slat was observed hanging loose from the roof of the climbing equipment in the outdoor play area, posing a safety risk should it fall off and hit a child standing below it. Infection Control: (2) Two bins in use in the Pre-school toilets were open at the top with no lids. Disposable gloves and used paper towels were visible and accessible to the children, posing a risk of cross contamination should the children come into contact with the used materials when disposing of paper waste. Safe Sleep: (3) The inspector observed, at 12.50 pm, that there were two children, under two years old, asleep in bouncers on the floor of one of the separated areas of the Creche/Wobbler care room. Bouncers are not considered appropriate for use for sleep as they pose a safety risk due to the children’s semi-upright position in the bouncers which has the potential to cause an airway obstruction while asleep. (4) Two cots in the Creche/Wobbler dedicated sleep room were observed placed next to a radiator, posing a risk that a child placed in either cot could become overheated. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
- The following statements were received from the registered provider; General Safety: (1) The slat was removed, and the climbing equipment has been added to the safety checks. Regular checks will be conducted by maintenance personnel. Infection Control: (2) The bins were removed and replaced the following day. Staff will ensure that damaged items are removed immediately and management will be informed. Safe Sleep: (3) The two bouncers were removed, and parents informed that the children would be sleeping in cots in future. (4) The cots were moved away from the radiators. Staff will ensure that the cots are not placed next to radiators in the future
Found compliant: Regulation 9, 19, 25, 26.