Childminder inspection report. Ellie's Childminding Glasgow

Transcription

1 Ellie's Childminding Glasgow Inspection completed on 28 October 2015

2 Service provided by: Spence Harflett, Eleanor Service provider number: SP Care service number: CS Inspection Type: Unannounced Care services in Scotland, including childminders, cannot operate unless they are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award grades and set out improvements that must be made. We also investigate complaints about care services and take action when things aren't good enough. Please get in touch with us if you would like more information or have any concerns about a care service. Contact Us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY enquiries@careinspectorate.com page 2 of 14

3 1 Introduction Eleanor Spence Harflett is currently registered to provide a care service (Ellie's Childminding) to a maximum of 6 children at any one time under the age of 16, of whom no more than 3 children are not yet attending primary school and of whom no more than 1 is under 12 months. Numbers are inclusive of children of the childminder's family. This was the service's first inspection since registering on 31 October The service operates from the childminder's home, a ground floor flat in the west end of Glasgow, which is close to schools, nurseries, shops, parks and museums. The childminder's aims and objectives include that she will: - provide a service that is child centred, following the needs and wishes of the child as much as possible, so that they can reach their full potential and be happy, confident individuals who feel valued. - centre activities around children's individual interests and abilities and give them choice in which activities they wish to take part in. - have personal plans for each child, following SHANARRI (safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included) wellbeing indicators, to help identify and fulfil their needs and chart their progress. - always give equal opportunity to all children. For example, not have girls' and boys' toys. - have a positive approach to discipline and set out clear ground rules. - always recognise the child's health and safety as of paramount importance. - develop positive relationships with parents and carers. - offer a service from Monday to Friday with flexible working hours to suit individual families. page 3 of 14

4 - communicate clearly with parents, giving feedback on their child's day. - encourage parents to give feedback in order to continually improve the service. - give clear policies and have a clear contract. - provide many opportunities for fun and learning such as doing arts and crafts and going on trips to museums, play parks and libraries. What we did during our inspection We carried out an unannounced inspection on Wednesday 28 October 2015 between 12.15pm and 1.45pm. As requested by us, the childminder completed and submitted a self assessment to the Care Inspectorate. We looked at the information shared within this document prior to the inspection visit and used the information to plan our inspection. We did not ask the childminder to submit an annual return as this was the service's first inspection. During the inspection, we spoke to: - the childminder - one minded child (aged 3 years) - the childminder's child (aged 2 years). Throughout the inspection, we gathered evidence from many sources including the relevant sections of policies, procedures, records and other documents including: - children's personal plans - certificate of registration - the childminder's policy pack - the childminder's welcome pack - risk assessments - medication recording policy and system - records of training activity. page 4 of 14

5 Views of people using the service During the inspection visit, we spoke to the minded child who was very engaged in play with the childminder's child. We observed both children to be happy and to play cooperatively with each other. Some quotes from the minded child included: "This is my favourite book, I have it in my house." "I have had my lunch, I had broccoli." "I like playing with the babies, I am taking the baby for a walk." We did not receive any feedback from the family of the minded child about the quality of the service provided. Self assessment Every year all care services complete a 'self assessment' telling us how their service is performing. We check to make sure this is accurate. We received a completed self assessment from the childminder. We were satisfied with the way the childminder completed this and with the relevant information included for each heading that we grade services under. What the service did well The childminder provided a very relaxed, homely and nurturing environment for the minded child. Throughout our visit, the childminder responded to the minded child's requests and ensured that her personal requests and requirements were met. What the service could do better As the childminder's service grows and develops and she cares for more children she should further develop how she supports children through personal plans. In addition to this, the childminder should access relevant training which she had identified through her self assessment and through discussion during the inspection. page 5 of 14

6 2 The grades we awarded We grade the quality of care and support, the quality of the environment and the quality of management and leadership. If the childminder employs an assistant, we also grade the quality of staffing. In each case, we award a grade on a scale from 1 to 6, where 1 is unsatisfactory and 6 is excellent. Quality of care and support Quality of environment Quality of staffing Quality of management and leadership 4 - Good 4 - Good not assessed 3 - Adequate 3 Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection The childminder's service had recently become active following a period of maternity leave. The childminder was minding one child, one day a week, on a temporary basis for 10 weeks. We observed very responsive interactions between the childminder, the minded child and the childminder's daughter. The children played happily together and chatted confidently to the inspector. The minded child was a neighbour of the childminder and both families knew each other well, therefore there was no need for settling in visits as the child often played with the childminder's daughter prior to starting the service. The childminder had used the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) recording sheets to gather information about the child. We found that the childminder had recorded emergency contact information as well as the child's medical information including vaccination history. We found detailed information about the child's personal requirements with regards to nutrition and sleep routines. page 6 of 14

7 In addition to this, the childminder had gathered information about the child's particular likes and dislikes. The childminder used this information to plan activities for the child which she was interested in and which were appropriate to her age and stage of development. The childminder should develop personal plans to include observations of children's development and how she planned to support children. We spoke to the childminder about how she catered for children's nutritional needs. She told us that parents provided the child's snacks and lunches which the childminder stored and served safely. The childminder offered the minded child water or milk during the day. The childminder recorded what the child had done throughout the day. We noted that very detailed information was recorded with regards to what the child had eaten, how long they had slept and what activities or outings they had been involved in. Through looking at diary extracts, we could see that the childminder planned a wide range of activities for the child which were of interest to her and which she enjoyed. We also noted that the child benefited from fresh air and exercise through walks to local parks and museums. We saw that the childminder referred to SHANARRI (safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible and included) wellbeing indicators in the child's diary. The childminder promoted oral health with the child. We noted that regular toothbrushing took place and conversations about effective tooth brushing were ongoing. The minded child told us that she brushed her teeth at the childminder's house and showed us her toothbrush. To date the childminder had not had to administer medicine to minded children. We noted that she had appropriate recording procedures in place to record and obtain consent from parents regarding medicine if the need arose. The childminder had an information pack which introduced parents to her, her husband and her family as well as her service. This gave prospective parents an insight into the childminding service and informed them about the childminder's aims and objectives of the service. page 7 of 14

8 As the childminder was only minding one child much of her consultation with parents was done verbally at drop off and collection times. As the childminder's business grows and develops, she should develop more formal methods of consultation which give both children and families the opportunity to evaluate and give suggestions to improve the quality of the service she provides. Grade The quality of care and support is graded 4 - Good Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations Quality of environment Findings from the inspection The childminder operated her service from a ground floor flat in the west end of Glasgow. Minded children had access to a large, bright living room, cosy playroom, kitchen and bathroom. A small single bed was available in the playroom which provided a comfortable place for the minded child to sleep or rest. The childminder ensured that only the minded child slept in the bed and that the sheets were regularly laundered. We observed the bed to be fresh and clean for the child. When we arrived the children were playing in the playroom. We noted that a wide range of resources was age appropriate and easily accessible for children to access independently. We observed children dressing up and reading books. Later the children continued their play in the living room where they played with a train track and with dolls and prams. The childminder was committed to the safety of children using her service. We noted in the child's diary that the childminder promoted road safety through reading Ziggy road safety books with the child and reinforcing the importance of road safety. page 8 of 14

9 We found that the childminder had considered the risks associated with her home and recorded this in a formal risk assessment. The childminder told us that she updated this on an ongoing basis as changes occurred or as risks were identified. An example of this was that the childminder had a wardrobe and a tall boy in the bathroom and playroom secured to the wall. Considering the risks within her home and putting control measures in place contributed to the safety and wellbeing of children using the service. The childminder should now develop risk assessments for outings to places such as parks and museums. She should consider the risks associated with such outings and identify how she would minimise the risk of harm or injury. (See Recommendation 1) Grade The quality of environment is graded 4 - Good Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations The childminder should develop risk assessments for outings. She should identify and consider the risks associated with specific outings and record control measures she would put in place to minimise the risk of accidents or injuries occurring. National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 2 - A Safe Environment. 5 Quality of staffing We only assess this where the childminder employs an assistant. page 9 of 14

10 6 Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection The childminder was a member of the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) and used its website to keep up to date with childminding issues. The childminder also used the Care Inspectorate website to keep up to date with best practice and guidance. The childminder used the Internet to research childcare issues. For example, she had recently visited the website for the Scottish Cot Death Trust and had downloaded safe sleeping guidance in order to practice safe sleeping procedures for children using the service. The childminder had plans to access online training through SCMA. She had identified that she would like to do training around children's personal plans, Building the Ambition and Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC). The childminder had received a copy of the Building the Ambition document and was using this to increase her knowledge and understanding to provide a quality childcare service to minded children. (See Recommendation 1) Prior to registration, the childminder had undertaken SCMA induction training. Since registration, the childminder had done first aid and child protection training through Glasgow Clyde College and SCMA. As the childminder was only minding one child on a temporary basis, she had not felt it necessary to consult formally with parents. She told us that daily conversations with parents at drop off and collection times provided the opportunity to share relevant information with parents. As the childminder's service grows and develops she should consider ways of seeking feedback from parents which enables them to make suggestions and influence improvements in the service. (See Recommendation 2) Grade The quality of management and leadership is graded 3 - Adequate Requirements Number of requirements - 0 page 10 of 14

11 Recommendations Number of recommendations The childminder should address her plans to access training as it becomes available. National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 14 - Well-managed Service. 2. The childminder should develop methods of consultation to show how children and families are involved in assessing and improving the quality of the service provided. National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16: Standard 13 - Improving the Service. page 11 of 14

12 7 What the service has done to meet any recommendations or requirements we made at our last inspection Previous requirements There are no outstanding requirements. Previous recommendations There are no outstanding recommendations. 8 Complaints There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at 9 Enforcements No enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the last inspection. 10 Other issues N/A page 12 of 14

13 11 Inspection and grading history This service does not have any prior inspection history or grades. page 13 of 14

14 To find out more This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can download this report and others from our website. You can also read more about our work online. Contact Us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY Other languages and formats This report is available in other languages and formats on request. Tha am foillseachadh seo ri fhaighinn ann an cruthannan is c?nain eile ma nithear iarrtas. page 14 of 14