Louise Clark Childminding Service Child Minding Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 22 August 2016 Service provided by: Clark, Louise Service provider number: SP2011982573 Care service number: CS2011298484
The service Introduction Louise Clark was registered as a childminder with the Care Inspectorate on 03 October 2011. Childminders care for children in their own home. Louise Clark's detached modern home is located in the coastal village of Newburgh, Aberdeenshire. The childminder is registered to provide a care service to a maximum of 6 children at any one time under the age of 16, 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 the childminder's family. Overnight care will not be provided. The childminder's aims were comprehensive and included to: - Provide a safe, secure, clean environment in which children can play and learn. - Provide stimulating activities that are appropriate to the age of the child. - Encourage creativity, self-expression and imagination through various activities. - Promote children's good behaviour through praise, encouragement and guidance. - Develop language and communication through a range of play, story-telling and other activities. - Develop dexterity and co-ordination through a variety of fun activities. - Be a positive role model and promote social skills, encourage courteous behaviour and respect for others. - Develop moral values that promote consideration for individual and cultural difference. - Provide a healthy diet. What we did during our inspection We wrote this report following a short-notice announced inspection carried out by an inspector between 9.35am and 11.50am on 22 August 2016. The inspection was announced because we had previously made three visits to the childminder and found her to not be at home. During the inspection we observed the childminder working with the children and evaluated the quality of care, environment and management and leadership. We looked at relevant documents and records including care plans, parents' welcome pack and training certificates. 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 from the right people. It supports them and their parents to work with the services that can help them. There are eight wellbeing indicators at the heart of Getting it Right for Every Child: safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured active respected, responsible, and included. Views of people using the service One minded child was present at the inspection who was too young to express a view. The child was observed to be very happy and comfortable in the care of the childminder. Before the inspection we sent 3 Care Standards Questionnaires (CSQs) to the childminder and asked her to give them to parents who use the service, we received 2 completed questionnaires following the inspection. Both gave very positive written feedback about the childminder. Comments included: - "I can't praise Louise enough for the service she provides. She cares for my child as if she were part of the for Louise Clark Childminding Service page 2 of 8
family; friendly, fair and firm when necessary. Knowing the care love and attention the children receive makes returning to work a much easier prospect". - "Louise provides an excellent service and we have no cause for concern. Our child is very happy there". Self assessment The Care Inspectorate received a fully completed self assessment from the childminder as requested. The childminder clearly identified and gave examples of her good practice. The GIRFEC wellbeing indicators were used well to evaluate the good outcomes for children during different activities. Communication with and feedback from children and families were reflected strongly as important aspects in caring for children and developing the service. What the service did well The childminder had established warm relationships with children and families. Communication about children's care was effective. The environment was safe and inviting for children. They experienced a range of high quality activities. The childminder takes a professional approach to training and building her skills and knowledge. What the service could do better The childminder needs to develop her awareness of the National guidance on child protection and update her policy accordingly. Minor adjustments needed to be made to medication forms. From this inspection we graded this service as: Quality of care and support Quality of environment Quality of staffing Quality of management and leadership 5 - Very Good 5 - Very Good not assessed 5 - Very Good Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection The quality of care and support was very good. The childminder showed that she had worked with parents to develop and regularly update comprehensive information about the children's individual needs, likes and dislikes. This helped the childminder to get to know the children and meet their needs. Care plans had been developed based around the GIRFEC wellbeing indicators; what the child had achieved, their social skills and how the childminder plans to continue to nurture and support the children. We suggested that these should be shared with parents and their input obtained. The childminder described giving children choices about activities they wanted to do, as much as their ability allowed. Activities included painting, walks and play in the local wood and on the beach. The childminder shared for Louise Clark Childminding Service page 3 of 8
children's experiences with parents in daily chats, by sharing photographs and messages from her mobile phone or emailing parents. This helped parents to feel involved and confident in the quality of care. The childminder was observed working with one very young child. The childminder was caring and attentive. The child approached the childminder often to play and to seek cuddles and was responded to warmly. As a result the child was relaxed and comfortable in the childminder's care. The childminder talked to the child a lot in a suitable warm tone and simple style; this was encouraging the child to respond and develop their communication skills. She engaged with the child in play with real interest and made the child's time with her good fun. The childminder read to the child and encouraged them to touch and feel the textures. Book language was used; encouraging the child to turn the pages and develop their literacy understanding. The childminder helped the child to learn about their body and names of facial features in fun way. The childminder helped the child to stand and take steps. All these types of interactions were supporting the child's development and achievement well. The childminder encouraged the child and celebrated the child's successes with clapping and praise. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 5 - very good Quality of environment Findings from the inspection The quality of environment provided was found to be very good. The accommodation was spacious and the family room where the children played was warm and homely. All areas were clean and well organised. The childminder demonstrated in discussion a very good understanding of infection control and hygiene practices. She described how one child had been helped to develop good hand-washing practices by using a novelty bar of soap. While we appreciate the childminder's efforts to support the child we reminded her that bars of soap are not best practice as they can hold germs. Cubic storage shelves displayed toys that were easy for children to see and access; facilitating their choices. There were suitable toys out for the baby's stage including a walker and sensory books. A large garden was accessible and well equipped; with for example a mud kitchen. Children had experienced planting and growing. They had explored nature by growing caterpillars into butterflies, frogspawn into toads and keeping a wormery indoors. These activities extended children's interests. The childminder helps children to feel included in their local community and get to know other children through for Louise Clark Childminding Service page 4 of 8
visits to the local toddler group and coffee mornings in the village hall. She extended the children's environment and sense of place by spending time on the beach floating sticks on the rivers of water. Parents were very supportive and provided children with appropriate clothing to spend time outdoors. 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 management and leadership of the service was very good. Policies to underpin work of the service were well written. Records were appropriate and well organised. We shared with the childminder the Care Inspectorate guidance on recordkeeping and making notifications to the Care Inspectorate, available at: - http://www.careinspectorate.com/images/documents/2609/records childminding services must keep and notification reporting guidance (V5).pdf The childminder had completed a wide range of training that had increased her knowledge of how to run her service to a high standard. This meant she had a thorough understanding of child protection, first aid and food hygiene. The childminder was aware that her first aid would soon be due for renewal. The childminder read publications and met with other childminders to try to keep up to date with new information and ideas. We shared with the childminder the latest national guidance on child protection which can be found at: - http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/childprotectioncommittee/documents/guidelines2014.pdf The childminder's policy needed to be reviewed and refreshed to take account of this. (See recommendation 1.) Since the previous inspection the childminder had met a recommendation to develop her medication policy to reflect current best practice advise. The medication consent and administration forms now needed to be updated for Louise Clark Childminding Service page 5 of 8
to provide sufficient space to record the level of detail required. Very good consideration of the GIRFEC wellbeing indicators ensured that the childminder was firmly focused on the children's health, safety and wellbeing as her first priority. The childminder was warm and nurturing to children and had also attended training on planning to support children's development and achievement. Communication with parents was effective in supporting children's care. These aspects together meant children's needs were well considered and met competently. A course on outdoor play had affirmed the childminder's approach to getting children outdoors as much as possible and undertaking more risky activities with due thought and consideration. This meant children were learning about risks and how to keep themselves safe and develop responsibility. The childminder regularly involved parents in evaluating her service and invited their ideas and feedback. Questionnaires included aspects that parents could ask their children about or reflect their child's feelings. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 1 1. The childminder should familiarise herself with the national guidance on child protection and develop her policy and procedure to take account of this. National Care Standards for Early Education and Childcare Up to the Age of 16 - Standard 3: Health and Wellbeing Grade: 5 - very good What the service has done to meet any requirements we made at or since the last inspection Previous requirements There are no outstanding requirements. for Louise Clark Childminding Service page 6 of 8
What the service has done to meet any recommendations we made at or since the last inspection Previous recommendations Recommendation 1 The childminder should use the Care Inspectorate guidance on the management of medication in day care and childminding service to develop her own medication policy. National Care Standards for Early Education and Childcare Up to the Age of 16: Standard 3 - Health and Wellbeing This recommendation was made on 27 November 2012. Action taken on previous recommendation The childminder had taken account of the relevant guidance and developed her medication policy and procedure appropriately. The recommendation was met. The medication forms would benefit from some minor changes to accommodate the change in detail to be recorded. Complaints There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at www.careinspectorate.com. Enforcement No enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the last inspection. Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 27 Nov 2012 Unannounced Care and support 5 - Very good Environment 5 - Very good Staffing 5 - Very good Management and leadership Not assessed for Louise Clark Childminding Service page 7 of 8
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 www.careinspectorate.com Contact us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY enquiries@careinspectorate.com 0345 600 9527 Find us on Facebook Twitter: @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 cànain eile ma nithear iarrtas. for Louise Clark Childminding Service page 8 of 8