Childminder inspection report. Aitken, Dorothy Dunfermline

Transcription

1 Aitken, Dorothy Dunfermline Inspection completed on 19 October 2015

2 Service provided by: Aitken, Dorothy 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 The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Information about all care services is available on our website at The Care Inspectorate is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of all children receiving a care service. We want to ensure they have the best start in life, are ready to succeed and live longer, healthier lives. We check services are meeting the principles of Getting it Right for Every Child (also known as GIRFEC). Set up by Scottish Government, GIRFEC is a national approach to working in a consistent way with all children and young people. It is underpinned by the principles of prevention and early intervention. The approach helps services focus on what makes a positive difference for children and young people - and what they can do to improve. Getting it right for every child is being woven into all policy, practice, strategy and legislation that affect children, young people and their families. There are eight wellbeing indicators at the heart of Getting it right for every child. They are: safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, responsible, and included. They are often referred to as the SHANARRI indicators. We use these indicators at inspection, to assess how services are making a positive difference for children. Dorothy Aitken, referred to as the childminder in this report, is registered with the Care Inspectorate to provide a care service under the following conditions: - The care service may be provided to a maximum of 5 minded children under the age of 16 years, of whom no more than 3 may be of an age yet to attend primary school and of whom no more than 1 may be under 12 months (except in the case of twins). These numbers are inclusive of the children of the childminder's own family. - The care service will be provided at the address stated on this registration certificate. - The part of the premises not to be used is the first floor. - Minded children must be supervised by Mrs Aitken at all times. - Overnight childcare will not be provided. page 3 of 14

4 The service is provided from the childminders home in the rural village of High Valleyfield in Fife. The ground floor of the home and back garden were used for the childminding service. Aims and objectives for the service were in place and shared with parents at the start of the placement. Aims included: 'I will strive to give your child the best care possible. By this I will attend training courses to update my ability to care for your child and to develop myself.' What we did during our inspection We completed this report following an unannounced inspection. The inspection was carried out by two inspectors from the Care Inspectorate. The inspection took place on 19 October 2015 between the hours of 11:00am and 12:30pm. As requested by us the childminder sent us a completed annual return. The selfassessment form was also completed prior to the inspection. We issued three Care Standard Questionnaires to families using the service. All of these were returned. We spoke to: - Dorothy Aitken, childminder - Childminded children We looked at: - Placement contract - Information held on children to meet care needs - Files for individual children - Photos of activities, trips and outings - Policies and procedures - Health and safety information - The general childminding environment. Views of people using the service There were four childminded children present on the day of our visit. These children were aged between 7 and 12 years. The relationship between the childminder and the minded children was warm and friendly. Children were confident in their interactions with the childminder. We spoke to one child who page 4 of 14

5 said: 'I love coming to Dot's especially if there are babies!.' 'I like dinner best as we get to choose.' We issued three care standard questionnaires to parents using the service. All of these were returned. All parents strongly agreed with the statement: 'Overall, I am happy with the quality of care my child receives at this service.' Comments are included in our report. Additional comments included: - 'There are always a number of activities which the kids love.' - 'They visit the community centre, parks and go for walks in the woods.' - 'Happy with the routine. My child is more than happy and cries when leaving. Knowing they enjoy being looked after makes me feel at ease.' 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. The self assessment was fully completed prior to the inspection. What the service did well The childminder provided a homely environment for children. Children were happy in the service and had developed very good relationships with the childminder. What the service could do better We have made a requirement regarding notifications to the Care Inspectorate. We have recommended that the childminder: - further develops a medication policy and procedure - continues to access and read some of the good practice guidance available to enhance her service. 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 4 - Good page 5 of 14

6 Quality of environment Quality of staffing Quality of management and leadership 4 - Good not assessed 3 - Adequate 3 Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection The childminder provided a good level of care and support to children and their families. We assessed this through looking at how the childminder provided positive outcomes for children using the SHANARRI outcomes. The childminder kept a range of information on each child. This was updated regularly and discussed with parents. We found that the amount of information gathered was effective in making sure that the childminder could meet the child's individual care and support needs on an ongoing basis. Ways in which the childminder made sure that there was good communication between herself and parents included: - The opportunity to have a daily diary for younger - Text messages and phone calls - A regular questionnaire for parents to seek opinions and help the childminder assess her service - A questionnaire for children to make sure they were included in the service. Parents confirmed that the childminder got their views through: - Asking questions of me and my child - Filling in paperwork - Weekly catch ups. As a result of good communication we found that the childminder knew each child well and was able to talk to us about children's specific needs, likes and dislikes. The childminder held a placement review every year but this could be brought forward if a parent requested it or if there were changes to the placement to discuss. The childminder used reviews as she felt sometimes there was not page 6 of 14

7 sufficient time for the parent at the end of their busy day to sit down and talk about their child. There were four school aged children present during our visit. They were very relaxed with the childminder and clearly enjoyed being with her. The childminder was very responsive to children's care needs and provided an element of fun to their care. For younger children the childminder was beginning to develop folders with information on their development and care and support needs. This would enable the childminder to track children's development and share information with parents. Policies and procedures were in place to ensure that children's care and support needs were met. These included: - Child protection, which was enhanced by training the childminder had undertaken - Equal opportunities - Behaviour management. We asked the childminder to develop a procedure and policy for the administration of medication. We ed a copy of the guidance issued by the Care Inspectorate to inform this policy. (See recommendation 1.) The childminder provided snacks and meals for minded children. She had attended a food hygiene course and registered with the Food Standard Agency. Children said that they liked the food the childminder gave them. We asked the childminder to look at the good practice guidance Setting the Table to inform the menu provided for younger children. Parents commented: - 'All healthy snacks are provided and menu changes regularly.' - 'Evening meals are all home cooked and my child must eat as they don't come home hungry!' To ensure that children led healthy and active lives the childminder used the back garden at her home and outdoor spaces near her home regularly. The garden was well equipped and an attractive place for children to play. Children said they went to the park and on walks. Younger children were taken to groups such as toddlers. page 7 of 14

8 Grade The quality of care and support is graded 4 - Good Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations The childminder should develop a policy and procedure for the administration of medication taking into account the guidance issued by the Care Inspectorate. Management of medication in daycare of children and childminding services. National Care Standards for Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16. Standard 3 - Health and wellbeing 4 Quality of environment Findings from the inspection The home used for childminding provided a good environment for children. It was clean and well organised giving children enough space to play indoors. The garden was safe and secure and children told us they used it regularly for outdoor play. On the day of our visit older children were outside playing in the park which was opposite the childminders home. Permission to play in this area had been given by parents and children said they knew the rules and weren't allowed out of the street. There were a number of resources for children to use, especially for younger children. There were photos of activities and outings children had been on. Children confirmed that they liked coming to play at the childminders. The childminder had infection control information and had developed policies to support good practice. We discussed nappy changing and the childminder assured us she wore personal protective garments such as gloves and aprons when changing young children. Procedures to record accidents and incidents were in place and the childminder page 8 of 14

9 discussed with us how she minimised risks to childminded children within her home. These procedures provided children with a safe environment. Grade The quality of environment is graded 4 - Good Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations Quality of staffing We only assess this where the childminder employs an assistant. 6 Quality of management and leadership Findings from the inspection The childminder had attended training to gain information and experience for the service she provided for children. Training she had undertaken included GIRFEC, child protection, first aid and food hygiene. Through discussion with the childminder we found that she was keen to take advantage of further training when it was available. The childminder kept up to date with current news through publications from the Care Inspectorate and the Scottish Childminder Association. We suggested that she could further increase her childcare knowledge by reading the document 'Building the Ambition.' This would give her more information on stages of development and what children need to progress in their development. Policies and procedures had been updated and where changes had been made these policies had been shared with parents. page 9 of 14

10 The childminder was organised and had clear objectives for the service she provided. The aims of the service took account of positive experiences for parents and children. The childminder had used questionnaires as part of the process to formally evaluate her service. She also spoke to parents daily. She had completed the self-evaluation requested by the Care Inspectorate prior to the inspection. The self-assessment evidenced the childminders understanding of good practice. The childminder had not notified the Care Inspectorate of an event which could have affected the provision of the childminding service. (See requirement 1.) Grade The quality of management and leadership is graded 3 - Adequate Requirements Number of requirements To ensure that the Care Inspectorate is provided with accurate information about the service provider they must make notifications to the care Inspectorate as detailed in the guidance: Records childminding services must keep and guidance on notification reporting. This is in order to comply with The Social Care and Social Work Improvement Scotland (Requirements for Care Services) Regulations SSI 2011/210. Regulation (2)(c) - a regulation with regard to notifications. Timescale - With immediate effect. Recommendations Number of recommendations - 0 page 10 of 14

11 7 What the service has done to meet any recommendations or requirements we made at our last inspection Previous requirements 1. It is a requirement that the childminder keeps records of any issues which may affect children's safety and well-being. Where appropriate information about children's safety and wellbeing should be reported to the relevant authority and advice sought. This is in order to comply with: SSI 2010/210 4(1)(a) Welfare of users. Timescale for implementation: with immediate effect. This requirement was made on 03 September 2012 The childminder now had a good understanding of information that she should keep and who this information should be shared with if she was concerned about a child. This requirement was met. Met - Within Timescales Previous recommendations 1. It is recommended that Mrs Aitken develops a personal plan, in conjunction with parents for each child. The plan should be reviewed at least every six months. National Care Standards for Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16. Standard 7 - A caring environment. This recommendation was made on 03 September 2012 The childminder now kept an information sheet for each child along with information on what routines, likes and dislikes were. This recommendation was met. 2. It is recommended that the illness policy is reviewed and improved. This should clearly state the exclusion period for children who have sickness and or diarrhoea is 48 hours after the last bout of sickness and page 11 of 14

12 or diarrhoea. National Care Standards for Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16. Standard 2 - A safe environment. This recommendation was made on 03 September 2012 This information had now been added to the infection control policy. This recommendation was met. 3. It is recommended that the contact details in the child protection policy and procedure are updated. National Care Standards for Early Education and Childcare up to the age of 16. Standard 3 - Health and wellbeing. This recommendation was made on 03 September 2012 The child protection policy had up to date contact details. This recommendation was met. 8 Complaints Please see Care Inspectorate website ( for details of complaints against the service which have been upheld. 9 Enforcements Please see Care Inspectorate website ( for details of enforcement action taken against the service 10 Other issues No other issues were identified during the inspection. page 12 of 14

13 11 Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 3 Sep 2012 Announced (Short Notice) Care and support Environment Staffing Management and Leadership 4 - Good 4 - Good 4 - Good Not Assessed 15 Jun 2011 Announced Care and support 4 - Good Environment 4 - Good Staffing 3 - Adequate Management and Leadership Not Assessed 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