Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. See Statutory Notice section in relation to Improvement Notice 0261 served. 2. Safe sleep practices for children under the age of 1 sleeping in cots were not carried out in line with Tusla safe sleep guidance or service policy which posed a risk to children’s safety. • Between 11.00 am – 11.17am no physical sleep check was conducted. Physical sleep checks are required every ten minutes. • An inaccurate record of sleep checks was maintained. The practice and recording of comprehensive and timely physical sleep checks helps provide for children’s safety. Infection Control: 3. Nappy changing and hand washing was observed to be at variance with the services nappy changing and hand-washing policies and were not in line with best practice. This was evidenced by the following: • Staff did not effectively follow safe nappy disposal practices. This was observed by staff physically handling foot operated pedal bins to dispose of waste. This posed a cross-contamination risk. • It was observed that ten children from the Tweenie and Toddler rooms did not have their hands washed after nappy changing on the day of inspection. Additionally, it was observed that staff within the Tweenie and Toddler rooms did not effectively wash their hands after changing the children. This posed a significant cross contamination risk. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. See Statutory Notice section in relation to Improvement Notice 0261 served. 2. Services sleep policy has been reviewed, staff re-training has taken place, greater managerial oversight has been introduced, and regular audit checks are taking place in the service. Infection Control: 3. Formal eLearning certification for all staff on infection control has taken place. One-to one practical training session have commenced with staff. Practice observations by management team have been introduced. Ongoing review and discussions on this matter will be on the agenda for staff meetings
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. There was a damaged fence panel in the garden with sections of wood chipped away accessible to the children which posed a potential splinter risk. 2. Sections of chipped paint accessible to children exposing the wall were observed in the garden and Tweenie room. This posed a risk of accidental poisoning if ingested and in addition prevented effective cleaning. 3. The radiator cover in the baby room which was accessible to children was damaged and posed a pinch risk. Infection Control: 4. Children from the Tweenie room were not supported to wash their hands following play in the outdoor area. This posed an infection control risk and is not in line with service policy. 5. The flooring in the Baby room by the sink was observed to be damaged with peeling chipped sections of laminate and warped floorboards which prevented effective cleaning and posed an infection control risk. 6. The fan in the Tweenie room which was in use on the day of inspection was observed with a heavy layer of dust and posed an infection control risk. Safe Sleep: 7. The recommended ambient sleep temperature between 18-22℃ was not maintained in the Toddler room were children over one year old were sleeping. At 12.59am the room temperature was recorded at 23.6℃ on the inspector’s calibrated thermometer. The service thermometer was reading 24℃ at this time. It is acknowledged that staff opened both windows and doors in an attempt to cool the room. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The damaged panel was repaired the day after the inspection. The entire garden fence was checked and repainted to eliminate any potential splinter risk. This specific risk has now been addressed by enhancing our daily outdoor checklist. A new item has been added to ensure the wooden fence is visually checked for damage for splinters before outdoor access. The updated assessment will be reviewed with all staff during the team meeting. 2. The chipped paint areas observed in the garden and Tweenie room were repaired the day after the inspection. All affected surfaces were sanded and repainted to eliminate the risk of accidental ingestion and to ensure proper cleaning standards. We have implemented ongoing monitoring and regular repair work as needed. Staff have also been asked to report any signs of further damage immediately. 3. The radiator cover in the baby room, which posed a pinch risk, was repaired the day after the inspection. The damaged section was secured and reinforced to ensure it is safe for the children. We will remind our staff during the team meeting to ensure that the daily room risk assessment is completed consistently and that any hazards identified are reported immediately. Infection Control: 4. This issue was addressed directly with staff immediately after the inspection. The importance of supporting and supervising handwashing after outdoor play was reinforced in line with our policies. Handwashing procedures will be reviewed again with all staff during the team meeting. Staff will also be reminded to complete the daily room risk assessment checklist. Regular supervision will continue to ensure handwashing is consistently carried out after outdoor play. 5. The damaged floor in the baby room by the sink will be repaired as soon as possible by an external company. The are scheduled to visit July 8th to assess damage and measure for installation of a new floor. A suitable date will then be arranged to carry out the work, ensuring minimal or no disruption to the daily running of the creche. The warped floorboards were replaced. A risk assessment will be carried out. 6. The fan observed with a heavy layer of dust in the Tweenie Room was immediately cleaned after the inspection. It was deep cleaned to meet hygiene standards and to eliminate any potential infection control risk. All fans and other high surfaces included in our weekly deep cleaning checklist. Staff have been reminded to visually check and report the cleanliness of fans during their weekly room inspections. Ongoing monitoring will ensure that cleaning standards are maintained. Safe Sleep: 7. We always check the room temperature in the morning and afternoon as per our care room assessment making sure it remains within the appropriate range throughout the day, specifically during nap times. It is important to note it was unusually hot and humid. We have hired air conditioning units to ensure appropriate room temperature is maintained at all times, particularly during sleeping periods
(2)(d) Evidence of international Police Vetting disclosure was not available for one staff member who previously lived outside the jurisdiction for a period of more than 6 months as an adult. (3) Evidence showed that the procedures specified in paragraph (2) was not carried out in respect of one adult being allowed access to or contact with a child attending the pre-school service. A Garda Vetting Disclosure had not been obtained and reviewed prior to the start date of the one staff member
Provider's corrective action:
Corrective Action (2)(d) The service is waiting for the police clearance from the country of origin of that staff member, evidence was provided on the date of inspection to the inspectors. Staff member does not work directly with children. Staff member is kitchen relief. (3) The staff member started her induction week in the kitchen with the chef to take the handover prior to the chefs’ holidays. During the training period/induction the staff member had no access to children or the rooms. Preventive Action (2)(d) Tots & Co have a policy in place on this matter and take all precautions that any person working with children is garda vetted and has police clearance. Obtaining the police record for this particular staff member is proving difficult because her country has changed since birth, making it hard for her to obtain. (3) The service always ensure that all new staff members have been Garda vetted before their starting date
Regulation 23 — Safeguarding health, safety and welfare of child
General Safety: 1. A trailing flex from a radio was observed in the cot sleep room just behind a cot at 10.40am. This posed a risk of injury to the children. It is acknowledged that the trailing flex was removed straight away during inspection when the inspector let the person in charge know of the risk identified. 2. Cleaning agents were not stored safely out of the reach to the children, cleaning agents were observed to be stored in an unlocked press in the hallway which was accessible to children. This posed a risk of injury. It is acknowledged that there was a lock put on the press at 1pm during the inspection. Infection Control: 3. The following was observed which prevented adequate cleaning and presented a risk of choking should the children ingest the foam: o In the Toddler room, a blue foam cube was torn at the corners which exposed the foam inside. o In the outdoor play area, there were green cushioned shapes torn and the foam inside exposed. Action submitted by the Registered Provider
Provider's corrective action:
General Safety: 1. The radio was removed straight away during inspection. Management informed the staff that they removed the radio from the cot room for safety reasons on the day of the inspection. Additionally, we discussed this matter during our monthly staff meeting on May 30th. 2. The lock from the cleaning press was in place in the hall on the day of the inspection. On the day of the inspection, we reminded all the staff about the importance of locking the press as cleaning products need to be stored safely out of the reach of children. Additionally, we discussed this matter during our monthly staff meeting on May 30th. Infection Control: 3. The foam cube and the cushioned shapes torn were removed from their respective places and they are going to be repair or replaced. During our staff meeting on May 30th, we discussed about the importance of risk assessment and informing management about any risks concerning children to take the appropriate measures as quickly as possible
Regulation 29 — Premises
(d)The following non compliances which had been observed in the previous inspection in July 2023 remained outstanding: o The flooring in the hallway near the kitchen was damaged and unsealed which prevented adequate cleaning. o Paint in the hallway was observed peeling which prevented adequate cleaning of the area. It is acknowledged the inspection team were shown evidence that the registered provider is in the process of confirming dates of work due to be completed to address the above non compliances
Provider's corrective action:
(29)(d) The paint in the hallway, railings and flooring has been completed and we informed the inspector by email on May 24th and June 6th, including pictures of the work done. We at Tots and Co service are always improving to uphold our commitment to quality for our staff and children in the premises