Taylor, Brenda Child Minding

Transcription

1 Taylor, Brenda Child Minding Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 14 December 2016 Service provided by: Taylor, Brenda Service provider number: SP Care service number: CS

2 The service Introduction This service was registered with the Care Inspectorate on 1 April The service is registered to provide a care service to a maximum of 8 children at any one time under the age of 16, of whom a maximum of 6 will be under 12, of whom no more than 3 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. The service is provided in a detached villa in the Aberdeenshire village of Alford, to the west of Aberdeen. The childminder's home is close to local schools, parks and amenities. The aims of the service include: - To provide a warm and welcoming environment for all children and their parents/carers. - To offer a safe environment where children will feel free and happy to play. - To promote positive behaviour and every child will be treated equally and fairly. What we did during our inspection We compiled this report following an unannounced inspection, which took place between 11:45am and 2:30pm on 7 December This inspection was carried out by a Care Inspectorate Early Years Inspector. During this inspection we spoke with the childminder and the two pre-school children present. We did not have the opportunity to speak with parents during this inspection. We observed the care given by the childminder and reviewed a number of documents including health and safety documents, children's personal plans and certificates of training. We check services are meeting the principles of Getting it Right for Every Child (also known as GIRFEC), Scotland's national approach to improving outcomes and wellbeing for children by offering the right help at the right time form the right people. It supports them and their parent(s) to work with the services that can help them. There are eight wellbeing indicators at the heart of GIRFEC: safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active respected responsible and included. Views of people using the service The children were secure and comfortable in the childminder's home and played companionably together, choosing from the selection of resources available to them in the family room. The children were happy to discuss with us what they liked to do at Brenda's house. Two parents returned Care Standards Questionnaires (CSQs) to us before the inspection. The responses from these demonstrated that they were happy with the quality of care their children received. Comments included: - "Brenda has a wide variety of toys. My child is excited to tell me what toys they have been playing with whilst with Brenda". page 2 of 10

3 - "I am very pleased with the service Brenda provides. She provides a safe, welcoming home for my child. My child clearly enjoys going to Brenda's". Self assessment We received a completed self-assessment document from the childminder. The childminder identified what they thought the service did well and how the children and parents feedback influenced service improvement. What the service did well The childminder provided a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere for the children and knew the children well. The children were fully engaged in their choice of activities and had fun with the childminder. What the service could do better Whilst the childminder has undertaken some training since the last inspection she must now ensure that she regularly undertakes a comprehensive range of training. This to include maintaining up to date core training, including child protection. The childminder should regularly evaluate her training and development needs taking into account the needs of the children in her care and local and national guidance. Any training undertaken should then positively influence her practise and improve outcomes for the children in her care. From this inspection we graded this service as: Quality of care and support Quality of environment Quality of staffing Quality of management and leadership 4 - Good 5 - Very Good not assessed 3 - Adequate Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection The childminder was caring and nurturing towards the children in her care. Both children using the service during this inspection were comfortable approaching the childminder. The childminder actively listened to the children and encouraged them to freely express their thoughts and opinions. The children were relaxed and chatty and included us in their play and conversations. The childminder was relaxed and welcoming and the children had a respectful and caring relationship with her. The childminder knew the children well and supported them to be caring and considerate of each other and to share the toys and activities fairly. The childminder managed the children's behaviour in a calm and relaxed manner often anticipating children's reactions, which supported avoiding conflict. The childminder supported the children to complete activities by offering appropriate praise and encouragement. page 3 of 10

4 This promoted children's confidence and social skills. The childminder gathered good initial information about each child and then used this information to support the settling in process. We highlighted that the childminder to ensure she obtained appropriate additional information should any future children have recognised allergies or ongoing medical needs. Parents who returned our CSQs confirmed that they found the 'talk back book' provided by the childminder useful. In this book the childminder recorded details of their child's day and parents could also record and exchange information. Whilst the childminder and parents had regular discussion about the children's changing care and support needs, this was not always suitably recorded. We discussed that, in order to provide consistent and appropriate support to children, the childminder should record significant discussion with parents and detail any changes to children's required care and support (chronologies). The childminder demonstrated appropriate knowledge about keeping children safe and we discussed the process should she have a child protection concern; however the childminder had not undertaken child protection training for a number of years and not in the last three years. Please refer to Management and Leadership, recommendation 1. Children had regular access to fresh air and exercise, regularly walking to and from the local nursery and local groups. Ref: Eating Well: Packed lunches for 1-4 year olds Safer Food Better Business for Childminders National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 4 - good Quality of environment page 4 of 10

5 Findings from the inspection The childminder's home was clean, fresh and welcoming. The children were familiar with the layout and moved around freely and safely. The children had independent, safe access to a range of toys and activities and the resources were well maintained. The childminder described good cleaning routines, following best practice guidance and demonstrated an appropriate knowledge and practise in relation to infection control. The children were aware of the need to wash their hands after toileting and before eating. The childminder had appropriate systems and records for administration of medication. The childminder demonstrated an appropriate knowledge regarding the administration of medication and emergency first aid; there were currently no children who required long term medication. There was appropriate safety equipment within the home which included a fire blanket and hazardous substances were stored securely, promoting the safety of the children. The family dog, at times, was with the children in the playroom. The children were comfortable with the friendly family pet and behaved appropriately during contact with the dog. The childminder demonstrated an appropriate awareness of the risk/benefit, ensuring that the dog and the children behaved appropriately when interacting and that the dog was supervised when with the children. We observed the childminder to assist the children to learn through play to assess and manage hazards and challenges, appropriate to their individual stages of development. This supported children's personal development and decision making processes. The children's parent/s provided packed lunches which we observed to be appropriately stored and reheated by the childminder. The childminder demonstrated appropriate awareness regarding healthy eating and children's dental health and served milk or water with snack and lunch. The childminder shared appropriate information with parents about any accidents or incidents involving their child, providing parents with a copy of the recorded accident/incident report in order to promote effective communication. The children had regular access to the secure rear garden and to the local community groups and parks. The children walked whenever possible and the childminder demonstration an appropriate knowledge regarding the risk/benefit to children of activities undertaken and maintained appropriate risk/benefit assessments for her home and outings. Refs: Health Protection Scotland. (2015). Infection Prevention and Control in Day Childcare Settings. The Management of Medication in Daycare and Childminding Services National children's dental health improvement programme page 5 of 10

6 Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 5 - very good Quality of staffing This quality theme was not assessed. Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection The childminder had regular, effective contact with parents and children and was responsive to the changing care and support needs of children and any suggestions for improvements to the service from children and parents. The childminder had issued questionnaires to her parents in January 2015 and again in November 2016 and the responses she received were positive. We discussed ways in which the childminder might encourage regular, effective feedback about her overall service from children and parents which would influence improvements to the service (please refer to Recommendation 1). The childminder was a member of the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) and found their newsletters, website and helpline easily accessible and informative. The childminder had attended SCMA network evenings, one which had recently included a presentation and discussion regarding the rights of the child. These evenings allowed the childminder to share good practice ideas with other childminders and regular meetings with local childminders also supported practise improvement. We discussed child related programmes the childminder had watched on television and how one in particular had given her further insight into children's behaviours. The childminder also regularly accessed the internet to research craft ideas for the children. The childminder had up to date (undertaken at least every three years) first aid and food hygiene training and demonstrated appropriate practise in relation to these areas. However, whilst the childminder demonstrated appropriate knowledge in relation to keeping children safe she had not undertaken child protection training for a number of years. Please refer to recommendation 2. This was also a recommendation at the last inspection. As discussed during the previous inspection the childminder had accessed further training and development in order to broaden her areas of knowledge and support improving practice. This included the childminder attending classes at a local community centre which she had found easy to access and informative. The classes included, paediatric first aid, Childsmile (a Scottish government initiative to improve the health of children's page 6 of 10

7 teeth) and information about effective resources. The Childsmile information had reinforced the importance of children drinking milk and water and avoiding sugary drinks and those with a high acid content. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 2 1. The childminder to ensure that she undertakes regular assessment of her training and development needs taking into account the needs of the children, her own development requirements and local and national guidance. The childminder to then undertake timely and targeted training which supports improvement to her practise and improving outcomes for the children in her care. National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare Up to the Age of 16. Standard 12: Confidence in Staff; Standard 13: Improving the Service and Standard 14: Well-Managed Service 2. The childminder to develop strategies which ensures children and parents are regularly and effectively involved in giving feedback about the overall service. The childminder to then use this feedback to make improvements to the service. National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare Up to the Age of 16. Standard 12: Confidence in Staff; Standard 13: Improving the Service and Standard 14: Well-Managed Service Grade: 3 - adequate What the service has done to meet any requirements we made at or since the last inspection Previous requirements There are no outstanding requirements. page 7 of 10

8 What the service has done to meet any recommendations we made at or since the last inspection Previous recommendations Recommendation 1 The childminder to ensure that she undertakes regular, comprehensive, training and development in accordance with current legislation and good practice guidance. This to include, but not exclusively, core training - food hygiene, child protection and infection control. This is in order to regularly update her knowledge and influence her practice, promoting good outcomes for the children in her care. National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare Up to the Age of 16. Standard 12: Confidence in Staff and Standard 14: Well-Managed Service This recommendation was made on 6 November Action taken on previous recommendation This recommendation has not yet been fully actioned. Please refer to Quality of Management and Ledership for further information. Recommendation 2 The childminder to ensure that she maintains appropriate records when she administers medication to a child. These to include, but not exclusively, date, time administered, name of medication, dosage, did the child refuse the medication, childminder's signature, parent/carer signature, obtained at end of session acknowledging that the childminder had discussed this with them. National Care Standards Early Education and Childcare Up to the Age of 16. Standard 3: Health and Wellbeing and Standard 14: Well-Managed Service This recommendation was made on 6 November Action taken on previous recommendation The childminder maintained appropriate records regarding the administration of medication in her service. This recommendation has been actioned. Complaints There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at page 8 of 10

9 Enforcement No enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the last inspection. Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 20 Oct 2015 Unannounced Care and support 4 - Good Environment 5 - Very good Staffing Not assessed Management and leadership 3 - Adequate 4 Nov 2013 Unannounced Care and support 4 - Good Environment 3 - Adequate Staffing 3 - Adequate Management and leadership Not assessed 11 Nov 2010 Announced (short notice) Care and support Not assessed Environment Not assessed Staffing 5 - Very good Management and leadership Not assessed 3 Aug 2009 Unannounced Care and support 5 - Very good Environment 5 - Very good Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership Not assessed 24 Feb 2009 Announced (short notice) Care and support 4 - Good Environment 4 - Good Staffing 4 - Good Management and leadership Not assessed page 9 of 10

10 To find out more This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can download this report and others from our website. Care services in Scotland cannot operate unless they are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award grades and help services to improve. We also investigate complaints about care services and can 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. You can also read more about our work online at Contact us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY enquiries@careinspectorate.com Find us on Facebook 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 cànain eile ma nithear iarrtas. page 10 of 10