Inspection of 12 November 2024 — Inspection Report
Immediate action notice. An immediate action notice was issued to the registered provider in relation to the absence of Garda vetting disclosures for the relief staff member who was working in the service on the day of inspection and for the core staff member who was absent on the day of inspection. The registered provider provided written assurances of appropriate immediate actions taken to address the risk identified within 24 hours of issue. The registered provider stated that neither the core staff member nor the relief staff member would be present in the service until the Garda vetting disclosures were obtained and that this would not impact the services’ ability to maintain adult to child ratios, with the registered provider engaging a different relief staff member for whom a Garda vetting disclosure was available. This response was accepted.
Regulation 9 — Management and recruitment
- (2)(c) A Garda vetting disclosure was not available for the relief staff member (who was an adult female relative of the registered provider and who lived in the family home) who was working directly with the children in the service in a relief capacity on the day of inspection. Additionally, a Garda vetting disclosure was also not available for the recently recruited core staff member who had been present and working directly with the children in the service on the days immediately preceding the inspection and who was scheduled to be present in the service on the days following the inspection. An Immediate Action Notice was issued to the registered provider on the day of inspection in respect of this breach of Regulation 9(2)(c). (3) Based on a review of the staff files maintained, it was evident that both the core staff member and the relief staff member were present in the service in advance of Garda vetting disclosures being issued to the registered provider by the National Vetting Bureau of the Garda Síochána in accordance with the Children and Vulnerable Persons Act of 2012. (4) Neither the relief staff member who was working directly with the pre-school children in the service on the day of inspection nor the core staff member had certification available to confirm that they held a major award in Early Childhood Care and Education at a minimum of Level 5 on the NFQ
- The registered provider stated the following corrective actions and preventive actions have been undertaken: Corrective Action (2)(c) Garda vetting applications had already been applied for, in advance of the inspection and the registered provider was awaiting receipt of same. The service has since received Garda vetting disclosures for the two staff in question. (3) The service had a different relief person, previously Garda vetted, as cover until such time as Garda vetting for the persons in question was obtained. (4) The job was posted on multiple sites listing a minimum FETAC/QQI Level 5 award as a requirement. While the registered provider was awaiting a suitable candidate, she arranged cover to meet the adult/child ratio with a family member. Preventive Action (2)(c) The service will ensure that no new staff start in the service until such time as the registered provider is in receipt of Garda vetting disclosures. (3) The registered provider will ensure that only Garda vetted individuals will cover in the service. (4) The registered provider has hired an individual with a Full Level 5 award in childcare who meets the requirements of the job advertisement and the early years regulations
Found compliant: Regulation 11, 15, 19, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28.