Rennie, Brenda Penicuik Inspection completed on 09 December 2015
Service provided by: Rennie, Mrs Brenda Service provider number: SP2003905956 Care service number: CS2003012231 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 0345 600 9527 www.careinspectorate.com @careinspect page 2 of 12
1 Introduction The Care Inspectorate regulates care services in Scotland. Prior to 1 April 2011, this function was carried out by the Care Commission. Information about all care services is available on our website at www.careinspectorate.com The childminder provides a childminding service from her home in the town of Penicuik, Midlothian. She is registered to care for a maximum of six children under the age of 16 years, of whom no more than six will be under 12, of whom no more than three are not yet attending primary school and of whom no more than one is under 12 months. Numbers are inclusive of children of the childminder's family. The childminder provides a service to four children in total who use the service on a full and part time basis. On the day of the inspection there were two children present. The children were relaxed in the care of the childminder. The childminder told us her main aims are: "To provide a safe, secure home from home environment where children are nurtured to the best of her ability." What we did during our inspection We wrote this report following an inspection, which took place on Wednesday 9 December 2015. The inspection was carried out by a Care Inspectorate, Inspector. During this inspection we looked around the areas of the childminders home used by the minded children and we gathered evidence from various sources, including the following: - Observation of the childminder's interaction and practice with the minded children present. - Review of policies and documents related to the quality themes of this inspection visit. - Examination of specific areas of the home and outdoor areas used by minded children in relation to safety, cleanliness and resources available. - Discussion with the childminder about her practice and the service she delivers. - Reference to the most recent annual return and self-assessment documents submitted by the childminder. page 3 of 12
- References to Care Inspectorate questionnaires returned to us by parents using the service. Views of people using the service We observed the children who were there during our visit. The children were relaxed and comfortable in their environment. They communicated well with the childminder and were able to make their wishes known. We saw she interacted well with the children and was responsive to their needs and interests. All parents returned our questionnaires and spoke highly of the service and the childminder. Parents comments included: "I think the service the childminder provides is excellent. This is the first time I have used a childminder so myself and my child were feeling anxious about it. After a couple of weeks the childminder had made us both feel at ease and comfortable with the surroundings. The childminder keeps in contact with me daily when I am at college just to reassure me. My child has taken a while to settle which is understandable but the childminder has been very good in helping us both through the process." 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 childminder thoroughly completed the self-assessment document providing information about how she delivered her service. The document formed the basis for discussion during the inspection. What the service did well The childminder provides a welcoming, home from home environment for minded children. She has developed good relationships with children and their families and offers opportunities for them to give feedback about the service. The childminder knew the children in her care well and provided for their needs and wants. She had a nice manner with the children and interacted well with them at their level. page 4 of 12
What the service could do better The childminder should continue to review her service. She should also continue to research and keep up to date with new developments in childcare and use these to further improve her existing good 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 Quality of environment Quality of staffing Quality of management and leadership 3 Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection The childminder had developed warm and friendly relationships with parents. This meant they were confident about speaking to her and telling her about their child and their needs. All parents who returned our questionnaires strongly agreed the childminder asked for their views about how they wanted their child to be cared for. Parents comments included: "We have a chat nightly about the care of my children" "I give my views, through one to one conversations on a regular basis. I have also filled out several forms with regards to my child's care. ------ keeps me updated on a daily basis about my child's care, by telephone or face to face. She also asks me on a regular basis if there are any changes or concerns about my child's care." page 5 of 12
"The childminder gains my views verbally, through questionnaires and by on going communication. We get a lot of forms to fill in which are reviews of other forms I have filled in previously." The childminder told us it was important for her to work alongside parents to ensure continuity of care and to follow the child's routine where possible. All children attending the service had an individual folder containing relevant information from parents about their child's specific care needs, interests and development. This information helped the childminder to provide suitable care for the children. The childminder told us she had regular conversations with parents about their child's routines and all aspects of their care. She supported parents by dropping children off and picking them up from nursery, school, and other activities. We saw the childminder had developed good relationships with the children. She interacted and communicated well with them. We saw how she gave good explanations to the children to help them understand, for example, about why things stick together. We observed the children playing with activities of their choice. One child happily made a card for the childminder, telling her she was the 'Best'. The children told us: "We like ------ giving us brownies. "I like to play with the kitchen, build a beetle and snakes and ladders. ------ makes me laugh as she tells me funny jokes". Grade The quality of care and support is graded Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations - 0 4 Quality of environment page 6 of 12
Findings from the inspection The childminder was demonstrating her ability to provide a safe environment in many ways and the following are good examples of her practice. The childminder's home was welcoming and provided a relaxed atmosphere for minded children. The house had been maintained to a good standard and was child friendly, hygienic and comfortable for the minded children. The children were cared for in the lower part of the house, which included the hall area, lounge and conservatory, this provided easy access to the rear garden. A wide range of resources were available. These were well organised and stored in a manner that children could see and have easy access to them. This provided children with good choice. The environment offered space for quiet play, for children to rest and for young children to sleep. Children had regular opportunities for physical exercise and fresh air. They had access to a large child friendly, enclosed garden area, which was and well maintained. There were a good range of outdoor play resources available for them to choose. These included, a large and small playhouse, slides, climbing frame, bikes, scooters, prams and a large netted trampoline. The children described how the childminder helped to keep them safe when outdoors. They told us: "We have to stop, look and listen before we cross the road. ------ keeps us safe and we don't get run over. We never go anywhere 'yourself' or you get lost or stolen by a stranger". The childminder ensured children safety and wellbeing in the home and outdoor environments, she had developed risk assessments and health and safety polices. Risk assessments and visual checks were carried our regularly in the home and garden to minimise risks to children. Business Insurance was in place for children travelling in the family vehicle. All parents who returned our questionnaires 'strongly agreed' that they found the environment was hygienic, safe and secure. Parents told us: "The childminder has a very spacious home. The equipment is well organised and there is lots of it. The childminder has a play room with a table where my page 7 of 12
child has had their lunch and snack. The childminder has a huge garden with lots of different toys which my child really enjoys." "My children are safe and secure at the childminder's home as she has all the safety devices needed. I like that when I am at work my children do not miss out on activities such as soft play and interaction with other children". "The garden is fenced, toys are clean and play equipment is in good repair." Grade The quality of environment is graded Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations - 0 5 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 was organised with her paperwork. She kept a folder which held details about the childminder, her aims, policies and procedures. The childminder told us she discussed the content with parents when they initially started using her service, to make sure they were well informed. Through discussion with the childminder, it was evident that she had developed good relationships with parents and she respected their views about her service. Good practice was demonstrated with the use of contracts which were reviewed regularly. page 8 of 12
Public Liability Insurance was current and held in respect of the childminders legal liability to minded children. This was on display for parents to see. The childminder undertook relevant training to support her service delivery. She kept a record of the training she had attended. This included Child Protection, First Aid, Domestic Abuse, The Business side of Childminding and GIRFEC. The childminder's 'Complaints' procedure stated that she would like parents to approach her with any concerns they may have, and that she would be happy to arrange a formal meeting when children were not present. The procedure also outlined details of the Care Inspectorate for parents to contact if necessary. The childminder told us that she had provided a copy of this procedure to all parents using her service. We asked the childminder to tell us how she ensured they kept up-to-date with best practice guidance and current legislation. The childminder told us she used Care Inspectorate news and the Scottish Childminding Association SCMA magazine and website. The childminder held a range of resource books and materials to keep well-informed. As stated throughout this report, children and their families were offered ways to give feedback about the service, this actively helped the childminder to make improvement to her service. One parent told us that "the childminder asked them if changes to the service would be suitable." Grade The quality of management and leadership is graded Requirements Number of requirements - 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations - 0 page 9 of 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 www.careinspectorate.com. 9 Enforcements No enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the last inspection. 10 Other issues There were no other issues. page 10 of 12
11 Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 5 Jan 2015 Unannounced Care and support Environment Staffing Not Assessed Management and Leadership 8 May 2014 Unannounced Care and support 2 - Weak Environment Staffing Not Assessed Management and Leadership 2 - Weak 13 May 2010 Announced (Short Notice) Care and support Environment Staffing Management and Leadership 5 - Very Good 5 - Very Good Not Assessed Not Assessed 15 Jul 2009 Announced Care and support Environment 5 - Very Good Staffing Management and Leadership Not Assessed 9 Apr 2008 Announced (short notice) Care and support Environment Staffing Management and Leadership 3 - Adequate page 11 of 12
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 enquiries@careinspectorate.com 0345 600 9527 www.careinspectorate.com @careinspect 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 12 of 12